Chickens Sleeping on top of Coop

[McPickle88]

Hey! So, my chickens are sleeping on top of my coop and have been for a while. I think I let their coop get too dirty? Idk. I have cleaned it out and put fresh shavings in and they still wont go in at night. I am having to put them in one at a time. Any advice or just keep putting them in till they start to do on their own. Please help.

 

[townchicks]

Chickens like to be high up when they roost, so this is a common problem. If your coop is big enough, you can try locking them in it for a few days. Just putting them in every night can also work for most chickens. Make sure the coop is actually big enough for the number of chickens you have. Four sq ft per chicken, and 1 ft of roost length is recommended.

 

[Shadrach]

Hey! So, my chickens are sleeping on top of my coop and have been for a while. I think I let their coop get too dirty? Idk. I have cleaned it out and put fresh shavings in and they still wont go in at night. I am having to put them in one at a time. Any advice or just keep putting them in till they start to do on their own. Please help.

Have you checked the coop for red mite?

 

[StinkyAcres]

Make sure the coop is actually big enough for the number of chickens you have. Four sq ft per chicken, and 1 ft of roost length is recommended.

THIS. And 4 sq ft per bird is a recommended minimum.

 

[aart]

Can't answer this question without knowing:
How old, in weeks or months, are these birds?
How many birds are there?
How big is coop, in feet by feet?
Pics of coop and run would be most helpful here.

 

[Krugerrand]

Ventilation is important to consider, too.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I assume the birds used to sleep in the coop without issue?

Generally when chickens start opting to sleep elsewhere, that's their way of saying something isn't to their liking inside the coop, whether it's cleanliness (but you said you just cleaned), pest problems, lack of space, lack of ventilation, inadequate light at dusk.