change in chicken behaviour

[LovesCobs]

i have 4 chickens, they'll be a year old this spring sometime.
in the past week or so 3 of them have taken to roosting on top of the coup with 1 inside. one of them is also now laying elsewhere.
they don't fight.
it may just be one of those things, but with 1 going in I was wondering if there is an issue (before I start stuffing them in and closing the door every night

 

[Nettle123]

Have you checked the pen for red mite?. Its the main reason in my opinion that hens refuse to uses the coop. Another thing to check is that there are no rat holes. I had this in one of my pens and didn't realise until I saw the stash of grub!.

 

[LovesCobs]

thanks Nettle: i have seen a rat coming up from under the field shelter they are next to, to get the leftovers from the ground at dusk. not in the coup though? well no hole anywhere, but it comes up under the shelter then runs under the coup (there's a track) thats not new though to be honest.
i treated for red mite a couple of weeks ago. but i'll completely empty and re- treat at the weekend (maybe the warm weather we had increased them)
our cat used to keep the rats away but he disappeared last autumn, i have 2 more cats ready to rat hunt but they're still a bit young they should be hunting this summer i hope as we didn't have any last summer with my tother cat! any tips on getting rid of them? i so far haven't poisoned as i have cats/dogs etc.

 

[Nettle123]

Tbh we tend to live and let live with the rats as we live on the farm. I have used bait in the past but only when they took up residence in the tack room. What treatment are you using for redmite?, they are persistent little devils. I creosote my coops inside and out with real creosote and use newspaper as bedding with a thick sprinkling of diatomous earth. Its the only method that seems to really control them.

Have you tried going out after dark and looking in the pen with a torch?, also kitchen roll wiped under the perches would show red spots in the morning. Apologies if you already know this, lol

 

[LovesCobs]

for redmite I used a spray, it seemed to work last summer (i had run my hand along and got red streaks, which went after I treated it) I have some creosote which i think is the real stuff. for bedding I use Easy Chick, just as I don't go through much and the horses are on wood pellets which I think would get too dusty.

I'll go over everything with a fine tooth comb, do a big clean. I may block the rat hole that goes under the field shelter as well (though I'm sure another will appear!)
i went out at dusk when they were perching, looked in (to check the one that was inside) I didn't look more closely than that though (rat had run away as I appeared)
the large run area and coup is in my 1st paddock so the rats aren't a big issue and will be under control via the cats soon.
I just can't work out why 1 chicken is happy to go in on her own, with the other on top?
Once I've cleaned and creosoted maybe i'll go put them in (as if they have just arrived and need telling where to sleep!)