Why will my chickens not go into the coop at night?

If your chickens do not want to go into the coop at night it is quite likely that you have a mite or lice infestation. In order to find out if this is the case, firstly, check the cracks and crevices of housing for any physical signs of Red Mites or their faeces which look like grey ash type deposits. Secondly check your chickens, check underneath the wings and part the fluff around the vent area.  Look out for any signs of eggs, Lice or Northern Fowl mites. If you have established that you do have an infestation, then be sure to follow the appropriate Nettex Mite or Lice regime to help tackle and deter future infestations.

If you cannot find any evidence at all of parasites like mites or lice then consider the housing and observe the behaviour of your chickens when they would typically take themselves into their coop.  Are there enough perches and nesting boxes to accommodate them all? Is the bedding clean and dry? Are there any signs of bullying or cannibalism?  If you can identify overcrowding, bullying or unsanitary conditions then rectify these by either removing the chickens instigating the bullying or improving the conditions inside the coop as necessary.