Getting pullets to roost

Fringe

Chirping
5 Years
Aug 23, 2014
37
1
52
Connecticut
Hi All,
So I've had my 4 pullets for 2 weeks now. They're starting to get used to me, not quite so skittish as they were.

They were sleeping in the nesting boxes so I blocked those off. Then, when I go out at night to close the pop door they're all sleeping on the ramp and lip of pop door. I gently shoo them into the coop and find that they're sleeping right on the floor in middle of the coop in the bedding.

Even though it's only about 12-15 inches from coop floor up to the poop shelf, I built a ramp up to the roost area. I've got the poop shelf and a 2x4 mounted a couple inches over that.

My concern is that they're never going to figure it out and I've got two of them that their combs and waddles are starting to look more pinkish-red. Slowly turning color. They're at about 15 and 17 weeks of age so those two could conceivable start laying in a few weeks. If I open up the nest boxes they'll probably start sleeping in there again.

Am I just being impatient or will they figure it out eventually. I know one of them has been up there because there was some poop on the shelf but that was during the day, not at night.

Any other suggestions or do I just need to wait it out for a couple more weeks?

I also need to say that several suggestions have been to wait until late at night and move them up to the roost. I've tried to do that a few times. They're still skittish enough that they hear me coming - doesn't matter how quiet I am - and are wide awake by the time I get the door open. Thanks so much and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Heather
 
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Thanks, I looked on her site and evidently didn't put in the correct search words. I'll just try that for a week and see what happens.
 
I have this problem with my pullets every year when I put them in they're chicken tractors. they ALWAYS sleep in the nest box which I have no way to close. After dark I put them all on the roosts, and usually after a few days they start sleeping were they're supposed to.
Hope this helps!
 
X2 I've had this problem as well. I ended up going out after dark and putting each bird up on the roost. After a few nights of this they began to get the idea. Now all of them go straight up to roost.
 
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So I guess I was being impatient. Just like that they're all up on the roost! So I'll leave the nesting boxes blocked off for the rest of this week and then take the block away and hopefully they just stay up there.

Thanks again!
 

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