[nuzuki]

I have a run with 2 coops in it and 8 chickens / 4 cockerals occupy this. In one of the coops their is only 1 hen and 1 cockerel. Every night they all goto bed and I go in to close the hatches but their is always one that is perched up on the nest box outside, even in some of the minus degree weather we'd been having. Her guy is in the coop waiting for her on his own but she prefers to perch outside. Ive seen her go inside during the day and she can handle the walkway/bridge thing upto her coop so I know thats not the problem. So everynight I have to let her hop up on my arm and I have to manually put her to bed. Shes roughly 6 months old and has been outside for at least 3months. Anyone know if theres anything I can do to remedy this? Or do you sometimes get an oddball chicken?

Thanks

[joyfull]

some hens like to sleep outside in all weathers - I have some tree dwellers, however check over your  coop to make sure there isn't any redmites.

[nuzuki]

I shall check it over for sure, thanks for the reply. The coop is relatively new, I built it from new wood in september/october and have dusted it regulary with DE powder but theres still a chance of mites. I havent slurryed this coop like I did the other one.

I couldnt find the vanodine powder easily so I use fairy liquid, disinfectant liquid and DE powder and mix it into a slurry which I paint on. I did add some red mite powder to the mix last time I did this.

[ehs284]

Maybe she likes you to lift her in. We have a few who clearly enjoy the attention of being lifted in or out of the coop. Little tinkers!