1 chicken refuses to roost at night

[SuperC]

I am curious as to what type of ventilation up top that you have for the coop, and your location. I am not saying that is why she doesn't use the roost since the other 3 do. It is tight space, though. What is the height as well?

The height of the “walls” are 4 feet high, but the roof is on a slope on one corner about 6 inches above the wal, and at the high end about 16 inches.
It’s pretty roomy in there for just 4 ladies- 16SF of floor space, 4 linear feet of roost and they also hang out on top of the nesting boxes sometimes which is an extra 2.5SF of space. (They also spend most of the day in the fully enclosed and shaded run which is a total of 96SF and has apx 16+ linear feet of roosting bars and then other assorted sitting spots, so I don’t think they are crowded).

Ventilation is 3 windows at the top back(6”x13”), and above them is the 6 inch gap all along the 4 foot wall (all meshed in and secured with staples and washers and screws).

Then along the sides of the coop as it rises, I have that area open air. Then at the front there are “windows” that are 16inches tall and the 4 feet wide. It’s hard to explain, but it’s very ventilated.

Now that temps have dropped, I have put plastic over the 3 small windows along the back wall so they can still look out (they like to watch us approach in the morning) so there is no direct breeze anywhere near the heads, but I left all other vents open for ventilation. I’m in the south, so I made sure there is a lot of ventilation for summer. I keep the coop very clean so no ammonia build up, but I want to make sure I have enough ventilation for health and safety.

I’m starting to just believe that she just LIKES the floor. She roosts all the time during daylight hours (in the coop or while in the run) but just likes to sleep on the floor
I do sprinkle dry herbs in the coop (dried lavender and mint) for it to smell nice, be calming and repel bugs- which I’ve never seen any bugs in there but I also use some DE under the hemp) so maybe she just likes the smell of lavender as she falls asleep?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

In that second picture, is that one window completely open to the outside?

 

[bill3607]

In that second picture, is that one window completely open to the outside?

I’m thinking these are doors that are closed up when they are inside, but she can correct me if I’m wrong on that

 

[SuperC]

In that second picture, is that one window completely open to the outside?

Those are the big “people doors” you can open from either side. I was cleaning the coop that day so I open both sides, sweep all the shavings onto a tarp on the other side and haul them away. It makes cleaning so easy! They are double latched and closed otherwise for security. I’ve made sure I have no openings larger than 1/2” wide anywhere on the coop or run (& hopefully less!). 1/4” hardware cloth covers every inch!

This is before I was totally done with it all and before I put the shade roof on the run and finished the woodchip exterior and other finishes. But you can see the doors and such. I would let them play in there on nice afternoons before it was fully shaded to get them used to it

 

[SuperC]

I’m thinking these are doors that are closed up when they are inside, but she can correct me if I’m wrong on that

This! Those are “cleaning and check for eggs” doors.

 

[aart]

I’m in the south

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It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[bill3607]

Those are the big “people doors” you can open from either side. I was cleaning the coop that day so I open both sides, sweep all the shavings onto a tarp on the other side and haul them away. It makes cleaning so easy! They are double latched and closed otherwise for security. I’ve made sure I have no openings larger than 1/2” wide anywhere on the coop or run (& hopefully less!). 1/4” hardware cloth covers every inch!

This is before I was totally done with it all and before I put the shade roof on the run and finished the woodchip exterior and other finishes. But you can see the doors and such. I would let them play in there on nice afternoons before it was fully shaded to get them used to it
View attachment 3975031

I like it. It is big enough for 4 birds, ventilated well, looks secure, pretty, and appears well constructed. Great job.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I would just let her do her thing. Some chickens just don’t like to roost with the rest usually I see this with my heavier breed girls. I keep mine in my barn and I had a Brahma who used to sleep in my kids little 12v jeep. It became her jeep

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Most of our flock doesn't like to roost. They grew up sleeping together in a big pile on the pine shavings and they still do that. A few hop up on the roosts from time to time but most of the time they all sleep in the shavings. We just leave them to do their thing. The roosts are there if they want them.

 

[Possum-Pie]

Couple of thoughts/suggestions. I also have a 2x4 as a roost but I have it up on its thin side. I was under the impression that hens prefer a roost that they can "lock" their toes around. Too wide or too narrow may cause one/some to avoid it. Also, my hens often jump up on the roost early and take the "good spots". I have a SLWD that always seems to be late to the roost and doesn't get a prime spot. She ends up sleeping on the slanted nesting box roof. If I go in and pick her up and put her on the roost, she stays but I'm not doing that every night! I've noticed that some of my hens have a "preferred" place on the roost and if someone else is in it, they get flustered. Except for being right under the other hens, I don't see a problem, but I sure wouldn't want to be pooped on at night!