Chickens not roosting in coop

[shy519]

If you are able to reach them just grab them and place them in the coop at night they should get the hint after a couple of nights I had a few that liked to roost in a pecan tree I used that method with success.

I've done that their whole life! I can't leave them out because they will be killed by coons, owls, or coyotes no matter how close they are to the house.

 

[aart]

I'm having a hard time getting the pictures to load on here right, but the coop is 8x4 with two nesting boxes and a makeshift roost that's appropriately 7 feet long with a 8-12" clearance. There's a foot of space in the back where they can be directly on the ground if they prefer.

8-12" clearance from the roof/ceiling?
That might not be enough.
How high are roost off the floor?

Pics would really help.
Are you on a mobile or a laptop?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Is had each one since they were chicks. I raise my own meal worms so they're nice and fresh and I've tried that method before without success.

Maybe there is a treat that would work better for your birds?
Mine came to me at 1 and 2 yrs old. They were free ranging and roosting on a porch and in the trees before they came to me. I read about the treat trick and it has worked for me. So, I was passing it on. I’m sure someone with more knowledge regarding chickens will be able to help you.
It sounds like this is their routine and so this is what they are used to. From what I’ve read chickens do not like change, so it might take awhile to break their habit.

Good luck!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

You could always cull or rehome and start fresh.

That takes some commitment to put them up every night for that many years. Good for you for knowing your predator load and taking it seriously!

I would not let them out of the coop at all for a good 2 weeks after you put them in one evening (if it's big enough), just as if I moved them to a brand new home at someone else's house.They may be unhappy but oh well, it's their life and your quality of life that's on the line, IMHO.

Simply moving them isn't working obviously. I use a paddle or something long and essentially chase them to where they need to be. Again it usually takes only a few day. One thing is maybe your coop isn't light enough for them to enter if they are trying to go in just a tad too late. So improving lighting for roost time (but not too much all night) might actually help you to attract them in there once they have started with the new routine. Too dark and they start acting nervous about going in.

Maybe work on enrichment activities for their detainment period. Like a can with holes for them to kick around that disperses meal worms or scratch type stuff. Hanging heads of broccoli or cabbage for them to jump at. Some compost type leaves and a cut grass pile to scratch through. Maybe add some color if it's blah in there since chickens can actually see more color than us. Colorful marbles to peck at or shiny things to investigate. Not all birds will be treat crazy. Seems like yours might get too much easy access to your yummy fresh meal worms to really make them go crazy, have you seen how they feel about the beetles yet. Some birds simply aren't as treat motivated as others. It's amazing how varying personalities can be.

Beyond those suggestions, I might be at a loss for anything further. If you get new birds in the future... start them to going where you want them to early. Even though I do that, there is often 1 or 2 coop changes during integration. From brooder to grower to grown/stag pen. And they always adjust. Just last night I moved my stags to a new coop. Took a few extra minutes. But by the end of this week I bet I won't have to go "herd" them in any longer. Once you get a few to follow suit, the other see them and fall in line fairly quickly. Chicken see, chicken do.

Good luck!

 

[Mark Cavalli]

You can try luring them in near dusk with meal worms or scratch and close the door behind them. Just until they're trained. Meal worms are high in fat and scratch is low in nutrients. Both usually make chickens go wild for them. So I wouldn't do a whole bunch and on an ever lasting basis. But for training, sure why not. Keep it to less than 10% of their total daily ration.

You could also try raising the roost in your coop a little higher.

I've always trained my birds from young. It usually takes corralling them for a few days (no treats) to where I want them to be and they seem to get the message and rather go up on their own than messing around with me.

Anybody who didn't follow the treats into the coop... I would get them once they are roosted and take them to the roost where I want them. Chicken are creatures of habit. Once you get trained to a new habit, it *SHOULD* stick.

If you've never "homed" them to the coop, locking them in for a few days to a week could help.

A coop seems much safer than being in the open. And an effort that will probably be well worth the time you spend training them to it.

Good luck!

Taking them to your pin after they are roosting in the spot you don't want them is a great idea. They will get the idea after you do that a few times. I'm not sure of your environment but it is not safe for them to be out in the open at night. We need to Watch out for predators they will sneak up on them and get them. Always need to be safe good luck but I think this will work.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Taking them to your pin after they are roosting in the spot you don't want them is a great idea. They will get the idea after you do that a few times.

Hi, welcome to BYC!

That's what I thought, but the OP said they have been doing that for 3 years!

All my birds get locked up here. I've got just about every chicken predator known to man! I love living in the redwood forest even with its' challenges. It's WHY I moved here.