Chickens Refuse to use Roost?

[Clubber1234]

My hens do the same! I have to PUT them on the roosts all 29 of them!

 

[Kris5902]

The brighter placement of the plastic nesting boxes is probably deterring a them from using them, especially if there’s nice cozy darker ones available to them. Maybe try lowering the roost for them?

 

[cathloveydovey]

The brighter placement of the plastic nesting boxes is probably deterring a them from using them, especially if there’s nice cozy darker ones available to them. Maybe try lowering the roost for them?

Not possible, its built into the coop walls

 

[cathloveydovey]

The brighter placement of the plastic nesting boxes is probably deterring a them from using them, especially if there’s nice cozy darker ones available to them. Maybe try lowering the roost for them?

Literally none of my past generations have had a problem with the roost, the plastic nesting boxes have their back to the windows and they're still pretty dark. Its just these hens that have a problem with these nesting boxes. They're built to fit Orpingtons, but the only hen who uses them is my WTB

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Would bully hens be a reason that they don't want to roost up there? My WTB bullied them all the time as pullets/cockerels and when NC was bombarded with hurricanes I had them locked up in the coop for Hurricane Michael and when I could finally check up on them they were in the tightest places trying to hide from her as she scrounged around the coop.

That could be the problem. She may be preventing them from going up at normal time.
You have multiple options for the nests so that is good. Try putting fake eggs or golf balls in every nest.
I don't think 4' is high at all for Orpingtons. My first orpingtons were in a building with 3', 4' and 7' roosts. They all tried to get to the 7' roosts and some even went into the rafters.

 

[DobieLover]

They have a ladder to walk up to the roosts. I cant post pictures as of now but later today possibly. Ive tried fake eggs with luck only in the wood ones, they have perches to walk into the plastic nesting boxes too

We really need some pictures.
You mentioned a ladder but a ramp with cleats is much easier for a chicken to navigate.
You mentioned that the plastic nest boxes are in a sunnier location. Chickens like laying in a dark concealed location, not out in the open.
Again, is could please post some pictures that would be very helpful in helping you solve your issues.

 

[Kris5902]

They then decided to roost on the Very Narrow Edge of the next boxes. Where, they often decide to simply drop their eggs onto the coop floor where they break.

Can you eliminate the edge they are roosting on? Some commercial metal nesting boxes have angled tops to deter roosting, perhaps look into modifying yours like that so they cannot roost there? I will be building mine so the top edge is inaccessible to the chickens due to the roofline (I still have 3 months til they start to lay) my Sapphires also love high roosting spots and flying about... they think they are real birds!

 

[cathloveydovey]

That could be the problem. She may be preventing them from going up at normal time.
You have multiple options for the nests. Try putting fake eggs or golf balls in every nest.
I don't think 4' is high at all for Orpingtons. My first orpingtons were in a building with 3', 4' and 7' roosts. They all tried to get to the 7' roosts and some even went into the rafters.

Ive been talking with my dad about getting rid of her. She's such a horrible chicken, a bully to every hen and the new chickens and everyone in my family hates her. Honestly, I wouldnt feel anything if I just took a stone to her skull. Thats how much I hate her. Right now my dad and I cant do anything with her though because we're trying to finish the rooster run/coop we're building on our 10 acres so we dont get the cops called on us again.

 

[Chickenaddition]

From my experience chickens tend not to use ramps as much as we would hope they would, especially going upward.

The only things I can suggest is
1. roost height is possibly too high.
2. what is the roost itself? The width of the bar is important: too thin and it's too much work to hold on... too thick and they again strain to hold on.
3. A bully that doesn't let them up there.

My suggestion is to stay out there at dusk when they go in and watch them to see what they are doing to see if you can spot the issue. Sorry if these suggestions have already been posted or you have addressed them.

 

[cathloveydovey]

We really need some pictures.
You mentioned a ladder but a ramp with cleats is much easier for a chicken to navigate.
You mentioned that the plastic nest boxes are in a sunnier location. Chickens like laying in a dark concealed location, not out in the open.
Again, is could please post some pictures that would be very helpful in helping you solve your issues.

The past generations of chickens we've had havent had a problem with our ramp but I'll talk to my dad about it.
The nesting boxes arent in a spot where direct sunlight hits then 24/7 its dark in the coop in general.
I'll get pictures as soon as I can. Which will probably be on my lunch break.