[chooksbury]

Ok here's one .. My girls like to get on top of their henhouse at dusk.  It's enclosed in a run so they can't get away or predated on .. but it's not ideal especially with winter coming on.  They settle up there, and I admit it's easy to examine them up there and handle them when they're getting sleepy.  We often have a little cwtch and natter together as it gets dark, but even when I'm not here, they go up there rather than indoors.  I have to physically pick them up and pop them through the pophole later on.  Initially, Matilda and lucy would go in but since we got Dorothy, they all like to stay out.  Shall I continue to just put them to bed myself, or is this fostering a bad habit .. how can I get them to wander in of their own accord ?

[joyfull]

have you checked the coup for red mite?

[sallylouise]

my girls are exactly the same they have quite a high up perch in there coop which is all under cover which they sleep on, I think they got into the habit of sleeping up there in the summer and I was a bit worried when the weather changed as they still didn't go in, however the other night when it was gale force wind they were all indoors so I think they will use it when it is cold and windy.I have put thick plastic around the outside of the coop where they sleep so  it is quite protected and the coop is fox proof so I am not worried.
Girls will be girls
 

[chooksbury]

Will double check but !"Bukkinham palace" is new so I didn't think any red mite would be present . . better safe though. 

I'm discovering that the simplicity of chookies ... isn't quite that simple at all... They are very complex characters aren't they .. pleasantly surprised and intrigued at what they're going to send my way next by way of behaviour 

Thanks for your suggestions 

[IMOmimey]

I have ......ooh actually I need an up-to-date count! ....more than 50..more than80...or so ::)chooks,  and all but 2 go to bed!, I have been picking up these 2 polands from the roof of their coop, and tucking them into bed for well over a year. They just WONT go in of their own accord. The other 2 do, so not mites (checked that already). They just individuals!