Birds won't use roost

[HobbyChickener]

My Chickens will not go in their roost. They stood outside in a down pour (1 in an hour) rain. How do I get them to use their roost. They all sleep outside in a pile on the ground. Any Thoughts?

 

[lacyloo]

at night when there sleeping set them on the roost ,do that for a few days intill they start using them by there selves

 

[HobbyChickener]

When I go out after dark to check they all get up and run, so how am I suppose to get them there?

 

[Rhaena]

I would keep them cooped up for 1 week and let them get used to their home, then let them out and hopefully they will go in and roost when the sun sets. Good luck.

 

[mainely-chick]

Are the roosts in the COOP?
Can you lock them in there for a day or two
so that they know that it is home.
Once one or two fiqure it out the others will follow
with regards to roosting

 

[HobbyChickener]

they are all in a pen about 16 by 20. They have a house big enough for them to fit, but they will all go to the opposite side of the pen and sleep on the ground in a clump. Does it matter that there are 4 different breeds of birds? I started this as something for my son to see grow and help take care of. We brought home 9 birdso at easter to add to the rooster that he already had as a pet. Would it make a difference do to what is in the bottom of the roosts. it has wood shavings ( the same they has as chicks) and I was thinking of using straw.

 

[ella]

Bedding and breed type should not be an issue.

If the coop isn't big enough to lock them in for a few days, sometimes putting a food and a light in there will help.

Also having a nice flat (like a 2x4 wide side up) roost helps. You can set some treats up on it.

If the coop itself is off the ground it can be tough for the chickies to find the door. That can be fixed with a ramp and a light to draw their attention.

 

[HobbyChickener]

The coop is in the ground right now. They can just hop in and do play in it during the day, but there isn't anything, other then the edge, for them to "roost" on. Is that where I should add the board? What happens when it is time for them to start laying, will the board have to come out?

 

[ella]

It's good they are playing in there

. A roost would make them feel more secure.

Do you have nest boxes in there? If you have nest boxes with solid tops, they can do double duty as nests and roosts if they roost on top. Here one of my roosters and a hen demonstrates how that works.

The only problem is that you'll need to scrape the poo off of it.

But it's a decent solution for a small coop.

 

[lindseykoehler]

HobbyChickener...I have the same problem. In fact, I came across your post because I was trying to research the issue! I have three chickens and none of them will use their roost. They roam the backyard all day and put themselves into their coop at night...but instead of using the supplied roost, they all squeeze into the nest box! By the way, my chickens are about 4 1/2 months old and not laying yet. We have a ladder style roost with 2 x 2 rungs for them to roost on. Maybe we can solve this riddle together!