Chickens Not Sleeping on Roost

[Sadness Child]

This has never happened to me before, but I have a flock of 7 hens and 1 rooster unwilling to roost on the roosting bar. The actual structure is 31" tall and 4'x4'

 

[Doug in NY]

where are they sleeping if not on the roost bars?

 

[Nigel27]

It might be too tight for them to fly up there? Or the roosts might be too small

 

[Sadness Child]

where are they sleeping if not on the roost bars?

This is a 8'x5' Shed that I repurposed as a coop. My chickens have been sleeping on the other side of the coop as far away from the roosts as possible.

 

[Sadness Child]

It might be too tight for them to fly up there? Or the roosts might be too small

They have stepping stumps for them to jump up to the roosts, and the closest bar is 6" wide, and another is a 2"x2"

 

[Nigel27]

I bet they’d like two, two by fours flat side up. Or some fatter branches. Have they roosted on these roosts in the past? Are they still growing?

 

[Sadness Child]

I bet they’d like two, two by fours flat side up. Or some fatter branches. Have they roosted on these roosts in the past? Are they still growing?

Yes my chickens are growing still, but my chickens have always loved the 2"x2" more than the wider roosts.

 

[Nigel27]

Mine graduated up to bigger roosts as they matured. they’re not two by fours but they’re really big branches and small driftwood logs. But I always hear two by fours are great

 

[CNJ]

Usually, when I first move my chicks from brooder to outside coop. they sleep on the ground. I have to put them on the roost at night, until they do it by them selves. Its kind of a hassle, but they eventually learn.

 

[Sadness Child]

Usually, when I first move my chicks from brooder to outside coop. they sleep on the ground. I have to put them on the roost at night, until they do it by them selves. Its kind of a hassle, but they eventually learn.

I have always done this, but it have been a week and a half that they have been down on the ground.