Chickens won't sleep in coop

[McPickle88]

We have recently built a large covered run and made our shed into a nice coop and our chickens won't sleep in it at night!!! They won't use the nesting boxes either. I think I need to add a ridge on nesting boxes and maybe that will help with the laying part. I have ceramic eggs in them now. They lay In a corner on the ground. Weirdos. And also they won't go in at night. They roost on a tiered log we have in the run. Ugh! We put temporary roost in coop till we can build a ladder rooster in there once we noticed they were not going in and they still won't. I have to put them in the coop every night!!! What should I do?

Update!
They are sleeping in coop now and roosting on the tops of the nesting boxes. They will not use the nesting boxes unless they are blocked completely. Weird! I added a rim to boxes asn they still won't lay in it unless I have a board completely blocking it! Should I put a large rim on it to permanently block it? I need ideas.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Update!
They are sleeping in coop now and roosting on the tops of the nesting boxes. They will not use the nesting boxes unless they are blocked completely. Weird! I added a rim to boxes asn they still won't lay in it unless I have a board completely blocking it! Should I put a large rim on it to permanently block it? I need ideas.

Might try adding a slanted "roof" over the boxes to give them a little more privacy - chickens don't need a dark nestbox per se, but do seem to like a bit of privacy in the boxes. A slanted roof will also keep them from roosting on top of the boxes.

 

[McPickle88]

Might try adding a slanted "roof" over the boxes to give them a little more privacy - chickens don't need a dark nestbox per se, but do seem to like a bit of privacy in the boxes. A slanted roof will also keep them from roosting on top of the boxes.

Thank you!!! We will figure out how to do that!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thank you!!! We will figure out how to do that!

Easiest way would be to hinge plywood/scrap wood to the wall, so it rests on top of nests at an angle, like so:

Nice thing with a hinge too is it can be lifted out of the way for cleaning.

 

[Pelhamchix61]

Mine was the same then I found red mites now treated back in the coop and happy

have the same issue. Seems like the girls are too smart and they come roost on our deck at night and we have to bring them to their coop. They don't want to be locked up! Would you? I find it extra work, but it gives me the chance to bond more, even talking with them. We have done everything and the hens prefer to be tucked in.