Blue Plymouth Rocks Wont Roost

[Beachy]

We made the mistake of not teaching our chicks to roost when they were young...now they're 20 weeks old and 6 out of 8 are laying. In the picture you will notice another mistake, roosting pole underneath the nesting boxes. I have since put that pole above the nesting boxes for over a week now, but I'm guessing it's too high because the BPR's wont roost on it..Two birds roost on the pole on the back wall. I am blocking off the nesting boxes at night to see if we get different results. I of course unblock the nesting boxes in the morning so they will lay in there. I'm wondering if i should have a latter to the poles or to place the pole on the other side away from the nesting boxes and keep the one on back wall since two are already roosting on it? The poles are 1.5inch wide sanded for comfort locust trees.

Thanks for any input! First time raising chickens.

 

[tsperry88]

Mine were a lot younger, but I just had to disturb their habits. Put something in their favorite place to sleep and keep placing them on the roost at sunset. That's what I would do. Otherwise just let them sleep where they want, unless that happens to be in the nesting boxes.

 

[21hens-incharge]

How close to the wall is the short roost?

So they are sleeping in the nests?

I would make sure the short roost is at least 12" from the wall ( 14+ would be better).

Is the coop 4'x8'? If so a second roost 14-18" in front of the other short roost should help with roosting room.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Roosts are still a bit low relative to nest boxes, and I'd personally aim for 2" diameter or more, but I think the bigger reason they're not using them is they're in the habit of not doing so. You'll probably need to train them by manually placing them on roosts after dark.

Covering nests to keep them out is a good idea so continue to do that while they're learning (you can remove covers after dark, so they can access nests for laying in morning)

 

[Beachy]

Mine were a lot younger, but I just had to disturb their habits. Put something in their favorite place to sleep and keep placing them on the roost at sunset. That's what I would do. Otherwise just let them sleep where they want, unless that happens to be in the nesting boxes.

Thanks!

 

[Beachy]

Roosts are still a bit low relative to nest boxes, and I'd personally aim for 2" diameter or more, but I think the bigger reason they're not using them is they're in the habit of not doing so. You'll probably need to train them by manually placing them on roosts after dark.

Covering nests to keep them out is a good idea so continue to do that while they're learning (you can remove covers after dark, so they can access nests for laying in morning)

Thank you!

 

[Beachy]

How close to the wall is the short roost?

So they are sleeping in the nests?

I would make sure the short roost is at least 12" from the wall ( 14+ would be better).

Is the coop 4'x8'? If so a second roost 14-18" in front of the other short roost should help with roosting room.

Yes they are sleeping in the nesting boxes.The coop is 6x8x8. I'll get some other measurements and make proper adjustments with perches and post my results soon! Thank you for your input!

 

[Beachy]

Yes they are sleeping in the nesting boxes.The coop is 6x8x8. I'll get some other measurements and make proper adjustments with perches and post my results soon! Thank you for your input!

Mine were a lot younger, but I just had to disturb their habits. Put something in their favorite place to sleep and keep placing them on the roost at sunset. That's what I would do. Otherwise just let them sleep where they want, unless that happens to be in the nesting boxes.

Thanks!

 

[Beachy]

Roosts are still a bit low relative to nest boxes, and I'd personally aim for 2" diameter or more, but I think the bigger reason they're not using them is they're in the habit of not doing so. You'll probably need to train them by manually placing them on roosts after dark.

Covering nests to keep them out is a good idea so continue to do that while they're learning (you can remove covers after dark, so they can access nests for laying in morning)

Thank you!

 

[Beachy]

Mine were a lot younger, but I just had to disturb their habits. Put something in their favorite place to sleep and keep placing them on the roost at sunset. That's what I would do. Otherwise just let them sleep where they want, unless that happens to be in the nesting boxes.

I was able to finally get them all to roost by manually placing them on the roosts time after time for a month!