chicken won't get off roost in the mornings!

[yesfantina]

Hi

We have 12 chickens and a 6x8 foot coop that's about 7 feet tall. Roosts go the long way, and are at various heights. The top roost by the window is almost 6 foot off the ground, and that's where 5 of the chickens routinely choose to spend the night. This used to be no problem, but the last few months, one of our 1 yr old EEs has stopped getting off in the morning. We open the run door and let them out and everyone flies down and leaves and she sits up there and SQUAWKS and SQUAWKS. Finally we started going in when we open the run door and grabbing her off the roost to let her down (and then she's perfectly normal, going about her daily activities...)
It's like she's afraid to jump down. There's other roosts lower she could go to, but she chooses the to one. This morning again, we left her alone to see what she'd do and she squawked for 1/2 hour. then she got quiet. We went to check but she was still up there pacing back and forth.
Any ideas or are we going to be handling this spoiled little girl every morning for the rest of her life so she doesnt' have to fly down from her choosen roost....

thanks
-t

 

[BayBay Peepers]

I think it's too high. Chickens naturally want to go to the highest point available. They'll hop up using the other roosts, but don't use them on the way down. If they're jumping 6 feet then you run the risk of leg/feet injuries.

 

[Blooie]

I think it's too high. Chickens naturally want to go to the highest point available. They'll hop up using the other roosts, but don't use them on the way down. If they're jumping 6 feet then you run the risk of leg/feet injuries.

x2 Same thing happened here. Everything was fine until they got big - they still wanted to roost on the highest roost, but jumping down was another story.

 

[yesfantina]

I just went and measured. It's actually closer to 5'4" from the ground. You still think it's too high? I guess it's 'too high' for HER, but for everyone? Should I just remove that highest roost?

 

[smarsh]

can you make it easier for her to come down one rung at a time. She is likely egg laden and/or has had a spill getting down and is now hesitant. If your roost were easier to dismount from, like an angled walk board like you see from many coops to the ground.

 

[BayBay Peepers]

It's quite difficult and dangerous for them to jump from that height. The bigger the bird the harder they fall.