[HairyBear]

Should I be concerned that two of my girls roost on top of their hen house?

I currently have 4 hens in my main run. Two are from the original batch of hens I bought and two are hens I incubated about a year ago. 

The two that I've had from chicks have always flatly refused to sleep in the coop. They go in to lay eggs, but refuse to sleep there.  For about 8 months (and through last Autumn/Winter/Spring) I methodically went up to the run each night, chased them up and down the top of the coop (it's a quite tall coop so sure this looks quite comical), popped them in the hen house and closed it up for the night.

After 8 months I still would fine them every evening on top of the house.  So, over the summer I've left them to it.

I'm assuming I really need to start the fiasco or putting them to bed every night once the weather starts getting colder. Has anyone else had the same problem and any solutions???  How long do you think it safe (bearing in mind the weather) before I need to start putting them away?

Thanks.

[orchardlady]

Hens can be contrary! I've had hens that have spent the whole winter up trees and have been fine. The only problem is as the days lengthened they came down earlier and earlier and one day Mr. Fox introduced himself. It sounds as if you are doing all the right things but I'm sure hen chasing in the rain and mud looses it's charm somewhat after a few goes. Your options are: You can start again with a new set of birds. Contain them in some way, a run perhaps so they cannot access the roof and have to go into the house or you say thats life and let them take the risk of rain, snow, wind etc. Hens are pretty savvy and if conditions get intolerable they'll eventually go to bed in the hen house.

Chin up!

[threeranger]

Hi HairyBear,

You might enjoy reading our capers with two new girls we introduced recently. It sounds like plenty of people have the same experiences. I guess it depends on your circumstances whether you feel safe leaving them outside or not, but it sounds like they eventually succumb when the whether gets colder anyway.

Enjoy:
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=64011.0

We still have the occasional rebel, but they are starting to go in by themselves more regularly now.