[Fannyann]

I have 4 chickens, 2 original and 2 new POL. They've been living together now for about 6 weeks and after the usual pecking order disputes seem to be getting along fine.

HOWEVER, we have yet to have a night where all 4 have gone into the coop at night. To start off the 2 old girls would use the coop and I would move the new ones in at night.
After a few nights of doing this I found that I had 1 old girl in the coop and 1 old girl joining the others on the roof.............then I had 1 new and 1 old one in, 1 new and 1 old one out!!

I kept putting whichever hens were on the roof into the coop AND NOW...........tonight I've been down to the coop and have ALL 4 on the roof!!

Are they playing games with me??

They are in a totally fox proof run so shall I leave them to it?

Hoping someone can shed some light on this matter....................

[8doubles]

Have you checked the coop for red mite , reluctance to sleep inside is often a sign .

[orchardlady]

There are lots of posts about red mite on this site. It is a very strong possibility if they are unwilling to go to bed in the hen house/coop. Bless them they know what's going to happen to them when they go to bed.

[Fannyann]

hadn't thought of red mite, this forum is great!

Have been out with my torch, no sign of the blighters on perch, in cracks and crevices or rest of coop. Birds clean too.

The mystery continues!

[Ice]

Mine went through a stage of roosting on the coop roof.  I just put so many obstacles on the roof that they had no choice but to use the coop.  Certainly wasn't red mites that made them do it, just them being awkward.

[Junie]

I'm sure they will go in when the frosts appear.

[Fannyann]

Thanks for the replies

Think I'll have some fun and games with these chickens!

[orchardlady]

Even though you cannot see the red mite in your hen house it might be worth treating on a 'just in case' basis now and then again two more times with a minimum of ten days between treatments. I wouldn't rely on cold weather driving them into the house. I've had cockerels that have spent a whole winter roosting in trees but that's a different story! 

[mrs.ploppy]

Some birds just test your patience! lol  I have 2 cream legbars that insist on roosting in the apple tree which is not good to get hold of them to put away.  Everyone else goes to bed ok but these 2 think they are tree chickens.  We will train them in the end.