Chickens won't roost

[Strategic Chicken]

Hello. For many weeks now, i have tried to get my fifteen week old pullets to roost in their coop. Every night I find them in the nesting box (they haven't started laying yet) laying together. I always manually move them onto the roost, however when I check on them an hour later, they're back in the nesting box. I tried to seal of the nesting box with cardboard, but they would just lay down in the corner of the coop, never on the roost. Perhaps they are too cold (we're in NorCal, so it never gets below freezing at night, and they're fully feathered), or perhaps it is because the roost is rectangular and not round, so they don't like the feeling. What should I do? All answers are appreciated!

Here is a photo of their roost.

 

[sourland]

Is the nest box situated higher than the roost? If so try raising the roost. Chickens like to roost at the highest point possible.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Yep, your roost is too low!

 

[StinkyAcres]

Try making a roost with multiple levels (so they can sort of climb to the top perch) out of 2x4s wide side up.

 

[aart]

Yes, make the roost higher than the nests...and block off the nests until they are roosting regularly and/or start laying.

Here's some tips about heights in the coop:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/

 

[EggSighted4Life]

What should I do? All answers are appreciated!

That's tiny pre fab coop dysfunction, not even truly good for bantams, in MY experience.. those roost are definitely too low and also too narrow to be comfortable for the feet. The roost closest to the nesting boxes is.. well, too close to the nesting box.. causing a poopy mess once laying has started.

With the modification suggested, it should work itself out quickly!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Agree that roosts are low and also narrow looking. For standard sized birds I would aim for 2" wide or more.

Also how close are the roosts to each other, and to the wall? At a minimum you want about 12" away from the wall, and 14-16" away from each other.

 

[Tonyroo]

I'm in norcal also. My suggestion is to use a 2x3 stud, gap each bar 16" away from each other. Place the bars 3 feet up from the floor.

Grab 1 or 2 chickens and place them on the new roost at dusk when there some light. The other chickens need to see them up there to encourage them to use it.