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?

 

[McPickle88]

On my lunch I just made a temporary roost out of limbs

 

[3KillerBs]

Chickens generally prefer to sleep on the highest available perch.

 

[McPickle88]

I put them in earlier tonight with new roost. Hopefully they use it.

 

[Pemberton85]

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?

I swear you just described EVERY SINGLE BIT of what I deal with from my chickens. Right now it’s still been nice enough outside that I haven’t fought them too much about going in… not sure what I’m going to do when it starts getting cold. I have, however, noticed that they prefer to roost on the flat roosts rather than round branches and such.

As far as the nests…. I’ve occupied the corner they chose to make their own nest (pictured) in with a bale of straw and moved what they had to the wall below their actual nesting boxes (I’ll get a picture tomorrow)… they showed a bit of displeasure at first, but it didn’t take them long to get in it. I put the ceramic eggs in them to draw their attention away from the undesignated corner. I witnessed a hen lay for the first time… she kept pecking at the ceramic egg, like she knew it wasn’t real. So I’ve decided to completely remove it.

I assume that the purchased nesting boxes don’t allow for enough room.

 

[rosemarythyme]

A higher roost would help encourage them to roost inside. Your temporary one is pretty narrow, maybe 3 very friendly hens could fit across the top bar (yes they all want the top).

Where were the chickens living before the shed conversion? Depending on number of birds to floor space, you might want to try locking them in for a few days to "home" them to the coop. When I had a new coop built I locked my birds in for 2 days, and removed the old one, to force them to switch over.

 

[El jimbo]

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?

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

 

[El jimbo]

I swear you just described EVERY SINGLE BIT of what I deal with from my chickens. Right now it’s still been nice enough outside that I haven’t fought them too much about going in… not sure what I’m going to do when it starts getting cold. I have, however, noticed that they prefer to roost on the flat roosts rather than round branches and such.

As far as the nests…. I’ve occupied the corner they chose to make their own nest (pictured) in with a bale of straw and moved what they had to the wall below their actual nesting boxes (I’ll get a picture tomorrow)… they showed a bit of displeasure at first, but it didn’t take them long to get in it. I put the ceramic eggs in them to draw their attention away from the undesignated corner. I witnessed a hen lay for the first time… she kept pecking at the ceramic egg, like she knew it wasn’t real. So I’ve decided to completely remove it.

I assume that the purchased nesting boxes don’t allow for enough room.

My advise do not use straw red mites love it use shredded newspaper not little bits just get a new paper and rip down in about 1 inch strips not only can you use the poo etc for compost they love it keeps them warm and you can change it more frequently or even burn it if you see red mites someone must have old newspapers I never buy and get lots donated neighbours etc

 

[McPickle88]

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

Mine finally decided to start sleeping in it!!

 

[McPickle88]

A higher roost would help encourage them to roost inside. Your temporary one is pretty narrow, maybe 3 very friendly hens could fit across the top bar (yes they all want the top).

Where were the chickens living before the shed conversion? Depending on number of birds to floor space, you might want to try locking them in for a few days to "home" them to the coop. When I had a new coop built I locked my birds in for 2 days, and removed the old one, to force them to switch over.

They have never used the one I made. They sleep on the rim of the nesting boxes I am trying to plan out new roost for them