Chickens won’t roost - 1 year old

[Toothpick]

Thanks everyone for the replies! I think I have some work to do!

 

[aart]

I raised them from chicks and it was the same issue in the winter months.

Post pics of your coop inside?

 

[Toothpick]

Here’s some pics. Before I had the nest boxes up there they would lay everywhere but the boxes. Once I put them up there they started laying in the boxes. But they never would roost.

(Special breed - headless chicken!)

A few of them roost to the right of the boxes. But the majority just gather by the door.

Just had a massive rain storm blow through.

 

[aart]

So they can get up to the poop board...to use the nests but not the roost.
I'd put those nests on the floor, then lower your roost to about 8" above the poop board.
Do you only have a few of those louvered vents?
Ever put a thermometer in there?
Any windows for light at dusk....and for more ventilation?
They've lived in this coop for a year?

 

[aligarysmom]

Not an expert but I’ll put in my two cents and that’s about what it’s worth. First is there any windows maybe on the side we can’t see? I would say they need some. I cut out the hole put up welded wire and then placed hinges for a closure out of the cut piece. Make a few in that size. At least two one on each opposite sides for ventilation. And then the roosts should always be higher than than your laying boxes. If they are at the same height, they will sleep in them and that’s a hard stop. Also those boxes are pretty open and lit. As in they aren’t a dark area for them to nest. I would put in a kicker board to make it a crawl in type space. I bet if you placed a window up even with the roosts they may want to get up there.

I had this problem with mine. And when I opened the window and talked to them. They all wanted to be up where I was so they climbed up and then realized hey this is comfy. And now they sleep up there. problem solved.

 

[Toothpick]

So they can get up to the poop board...to use the nests but not the roost.
I'd put those nests on the floor, then lower your roost to about 8" above the poop board.
Do you only have a few of those louvered vents?
Ever put a thermometer in there?
Any windows for light at dusk....and for more ventilation?
They've lived in this coop for a year?

They can get to the roost if they wanted. A few of them use it.
I had the nests on the floor and they never used them. Laid next to them, but never in them. It wasn’t until I put them up there that they laid in them. The roost bar is 14” from the poop board.
I have 7 of those vents. 5 across the top, 2 on the bottom, plus the chick door is always open. And one of the front doors.
Never put a thermo in there, but I will.
No windows but I do have plans to put at least 2, one on each side.

They’ve been in the coop since they were chicks.

 

[Toothpick]

Not an expert but I’ll put in my two cents and that’s about what it’s worth. First is there any windows maybe on the side we can’t see? I would say they need some. I cut out the hole put up welded wire and then placed hinges for a closure out of the cut piece. Make a few in that size. At least two one on each opposite sides for ventilation. And then the roosts should always be higher than than your laying boxes. If they are at the same height, they will sleep in them and that’s a hard stop. Also those boxes are pretty open and lit. As in they aren’t a dark area for them to nest. I would put in a kicker board to make it a crawl in type space. I bet if you placed a window up even with the roosts they may want to get up there.

I had this problem with mine. And when I opened the window and talked to them. They all wanted to be up where I was so they climbed up and then realized hey this is comfy. And now they sleep up there. problem solved.

They are using the nest boxes though, all 3 holes as is. I have plans for 2 windows, one on each side.