can I train my girls to not sleep on my steps?

[Bonzii7]

Hi everyone,

When we got our 3 full grown hens we built them a henhouse that they used everynight. Since then we have moved into a new house where we can free range them at night. Now their chosen sleeping place is right on our front steps. Wha can I do to get them to sleep elsewhere?

Thanks so much for your help!

Jill

 

[yelim]

After dark move them to where you want them. Build them a roost next to your steps.

 

[mrsbos]

Mine like to sleep on my patio steps too. For a while I had to pick them up at dusk and move them. Lately, they've finally got to putting themselves to bed in the coop at night. I didn't really mind carrying them and "tucking them in" though!

I am, however, getting tired of a poop covered back patio....but that's a whole other issue!

 

[Bonzii7]

Thanks for the replies. I have been picking them up and placing them in their hen house at night, but I just don't think I'm being consistent enough. It is fun to get a little snuggle time though when I put them in their house. I completely wouldn't mind if it weren't for the poop. We also have 2 ducks that sneak up onto the steps after we are asleep and their poo is even worse. But it's all worth it in the end. I'll keep trying to train my girls and try not to step on them when I come home after dark!

 

[Bonzii7]

Thanks for the replies. I have been picking them up and placing them in their hen house at night, but I just don't think I'm being consistent enough. It is fun to get a little snuggle time though when I put them in their house. I completely wouldn't mind if it weren't for the poop. We also have 2 ducks that sneak up onto the steps after we are asleep and their poo is even worse. But it's all worth it in the end. I'll keep trying to train my girls and try not to step on them when I come home after dark!

 

[Kittymomma]

If possible (space permitting) lock them in their coop for a couple of weeks. It takes them some time to get it into their little bird brains where home is so just a few days won't do it. Freeranging birds love porch railings, I think the porch and house lights attract them, but if you can lock them down in the coop for awhile it should take care of the problem.

I had to deal with the same thing. My youngsters outgrew their growout coop/run that is in the side yard, but I was unable to move them into the main coop (long story) so they ended up freeranging 24/7 for a couple of months and while they started out roosting in a cedar tree next to their coop/run they eventually discovered the covered front porch. They're in the main coop now and while they were cute all lined up out there it is soooooo much nicer not to have to clean chicken poo off of the porch and walkway.

On another note--I really can't think of anywhere that you can be positive that you won't lose birds that freerange, especially at night. I hope yours do fine, but I'd give it some thought.

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

Quote:
x2

I would have no chickens by morning under those conditions.

 

[donrae]

Do you have a porch light you can leave on? I've heard that can deter them, they'll look for somewhere darker. ALTHOUGH, the one time I tried putting a light in my coop for egg production, my hens roosted right on top of the light and snoozed peacefully!

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
In my experience it actually seems to attract them. After my youngsters got spooked out of their cedar tree they homed in on the porch/house lights like moths to flame. They would settle down on the railing much quicker if I turned the light off, but on or off they didn't stop roosting on the railings until I locked them in the main coop.

 

[N2tropicAL]

i posted a similar problem just last week. big bob, my black jersey giant rooster, roosts at the corner of my deck in a small magnolia tree. he puts the girls to bed in the coop then comes to the house. i have started carrying him back to the coop and locking them in til morning, but he doesnt seem to get the idea yet. LOL ill keep trying.

hes spoiled rotten...LOL