Chickens won't go home...

[micballin]

Hello all!


So I have a delimma. My chickens live in a fenced in run and the coop is inside the run. Their coop is elevated about a foot off the ground and has bedding material. The problem is every night the chickens prefer to roost on top of the coop instead of inside. The coop is basically a giant rectangle so the roof is flat. Any idea how I can get them to know that inside the box is their bed and they shouldn't go on top? Space isn't a problem, they have room to spare inside and there are even roost poles mounted inside. They just prefer a flat roof instead.


Also they act like there are two separate flocks. There is one older group as a younger group. They usually roost in separate areas with the older ones on the coop and the younger ones on some other stuff. The younger ones have started getting closer but they don't all roost together. We have to put all of them to bed every night individually. This has been going on for about a month

 

[kitkat5505]

Mine had to be taught to go in and roost at first. I had to put them all in by hand lol. They also might prefer it outside because of the temperature if it's hot there.

 

[obsessedwithchickens!]

Is there a light inside of the coop if you put a light in the coop and then leave it on until they've ll roosted they'd all go in there that's why I did and after a while i didn't even need a light anymore.

 

[lazy gardener]

How many birds? What are the exact dimensions of your coop: L x W x H? What does the coop have for ventilation? What are the dimensions of the roosts and how long are they? What are your night time temperatures? How old are these birds?

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Hello all!


So I have a delimma. My chickens live in a fenced in run and the coop is inside the run. Their coop is elevated about a foot off the ground and has bedding material. The problem is every night the chickens prefer to roost on top of the coop instead of inside. The coop is basically a giant rectangle so the roof is flat. Any idea how I can get them to know that inside the box is their bed and they shouldn't go on top? Space isn't a problem, they have room to spare inside and there are even roost poles mounted inside. They just prefer a flat roof instead.


Also they act like there are two separate flocks. There is one older group as a younger group. They usually roost in separate areas with the older ones on the coop and the younger ones on some other stuff. The younger ones have started getting closer but they don't all roost together. We have to put all of them to bed every night individually. This has been going on for about a month

You should lock them up in there for a couple weeks. The are creatures of habit.

 

[lazy gardener]

In this summer heat, that might be a death sentence.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

In this summer heat, that might be a death sentence.

I am just use to mine.. Very air flow friendly. Try keeping the food and water in the hutch? If their is no ventilation, don't lock em up! Scratch that.

 

[Chickiemom25]

prevent them from roosting on the house.. Put up a sheet of plywood or something to angle it so they cant roost. Also you might have to put them in the coop a few nights.

 

[Chickassan]

Chickens go to the highest point. Your coop is only elevated a foot off the ground, they feel safer on the roof.You got to either make the roof inaccessible or jack that coop up.

 

[aart]

How many birds?
What are the exact dimensions of your coop: L x W x H?
What does the coop have for ventilation?
What are the dimensions of the roosts and how long are they?
What are your night time temperatures?
How old are these birds?

These are very important questions, all should be answered by OP.
Also when and how the youngers were introduced?
Pics of the coop would help immensely.

Without this info most suggestions are just hot air,
and may not really solve the problem.

@micballin Can you provide the answers to LG's questions?
Oh, and, Welcome to BYC!