Chickens don't use the roost

[TexasSam]

my new hens and rooster won't use the roost inside their coop they keep sleeping on the floor and laying baskets what do I do?

 

[cavemanrich]

Do you currently have existing resident chickens on the roost??? Some possibilities are: new chickens are bottom of pecking order and feel intimidated by resident chickens. Too young and still not trained to use roost.. Roost too crowded if they were on it. If none of the situations mentioned, then gently try teaching them to roost. Place on roost after dark and leave them there. They catch on quickly.
WISHING YOU BEST.....

 

[triplepurpose]

Make sure the roosts are inviting, comfortable, stable, properly-sized. Are they too high, or is it too awkward getting up or down? Is it too hot up there?

And then sometimes they just prefer something else for reasons only they understand. From
a book published in 1877: "I had some fowls in a large outhouse, where they were well provided with perches.... and I found many of the fowls deserted their perches to roost on the [firewood stored in one end of the shed], which they evidently prefered." Chickens will be chickens.

If there is something you definitely don't want them to roost on, remove it, cover it or erect some physical barrier to keep them out of it or off it. Otherwise, consider if it is actually worth arguing with them about it.

 

[TexasSam]

Do you currently have existing resident chickens on the roost??? Some possibilities are: new chickens are bottom of pecking order and feel intimidated by resident chickens. Too young and still not trained to use roost.. Roost too crowded if they were on it. If none of the situations mentioned, then gently try teaching them to roost. Place on roost after dark and leave them there. They catch on quickly.
WISHING YOU BEST.....

No they are new chickens from two different flocks and neither group will use them I got 5 Ameraucanas from two different breeders and one is A rooster

 

[TexasSam]

Make sure the roosts are inviting, comfortable, stable, properly-sized. Are they too high, or is it too awkward getting up or down? Is it too hot up there?

And then sometimes they just prefer something else for reasons only they understand. From
a book published in 1877: "I had some fowls in a large outhouse, where they were well provided with perches.... and I found many of the fowls deserted their perches to roost on the [firewood stored in one end of the shed], which they evidently prefered." Chickens will be chickens.

If there is something you definitely don't want them to roost on, remove it, cover it or erect some physical barrier to keep them out of it or off it. Otherwise, consider if it is actually worth arguing with them about it.

I have A ladder roost and A beam roost all are easily reached. Could it be there still nervous. One group of two I've had for A month the other three two weeks

 

[K.Riggs]

i agree, i have had a few new girls that don't know how to roost and sleep in the nest boxes and poo.. Yuk. Go out at night and put them on. Mine learnesd in a few days, and if it was because my others weren't very welcoming well they got over it after a few nights of me forcing them to sleep next to each other.

 

[Ridgerunner]

How old are they? If they are not raised by a broody hen it's fairly common for them to not start roosting until they are 2 to 3 months old. If some are not fully mature they may not sleep together. So, how old are they?

Can you post a photo or two of the inside of the coop so we can see the roosts and how the insides are arranged? There may be some clues in there.

Are your roosts higher than the nests?

 

[K.Riggs]

Yes my first six came to me as chicks and stayed crammed into the nest box with mum until 3.5 months old.

 

[lazy gardener]

Photo of your set up would be helpful. How big is the coop (exact dimensions) How high are the roosts, especially in relation to the nest boxes. How much space behind the roost and in front of the roost? What is the roost made of and what are it's dimensions? What do you have in your coop for ventilation, and where (generally speaking) are you? It's helpful if you put your general location in your profile.

Are they laying or close to POL? Blocking the nest boxes at night is a good place to start. You can block them 24/7 if they are not close to laying yet.