chickens won't use perch

[craigcarter79]

Chickens not using there new perch, I moved them into a bigger run and coop today and they are sleeping on the floor rather than the perch. Will they start using it? I did put the boss up on the perch thinking the rest might hop up to join her. She stayed up there for a minute or so then got down and roosted on the floor with the others. What can I do to learn them to use the perch?

 

[tobit]

i find that when i get new hens and they dont perch in the right place, that if you just place them ALL on the perch after dark (when they dont move around as much - dont hop back down), a few nights in a row, they tend to get the hang of it and adust to it!

 

[craigcarter79]

Just been and put them on the perch. The perch is only about a foot high should I build a little ramp as a hint?

 

[TheChickInn]

Chickens get stressed out easily.....just give them a few days to get used to the new set-up. You might want to do as the others said- just set them on the perch just before it gets dark.

 

[shmeggs]

Just been and put them on the perch. The perch is only about a foot high should I build a little ramp as a hint?

you shouldn't need a ramp. I have a roost that is 18 inches high my chickens just on it no problem. I got some chickens one time that didn't have a roost they went to bed on floor of my coop so I placed them on roosts 2 nights they learned to roost and went to roost every night after that

 

[aart]

How old are they and what breed?

 

[Davidhalpern2]

I'm having the same problem. I have Plymouth Rocks. I got them at 14 weeks old and had to put them in the coop for two weeks and then they finally got the hang of that, but it's now been 4 weeks total and I'm still having to put them on the perch. It's a 2x4, 4" side up about 8 " off the ground with a little ladder ramp.

 

[aart]

Younger birds are fine 'roosting' on the ground, they'll get up higher on the perch if they feel the need.

 

[craigcarter79]

They are cream legbars and buff Sussex, there all around 12months old. I'm hoping its just because I've moved them into a bigger coop and they just need time to adjust.

 

[tobit]

Also, sometimes one of them avoids roosting because the others bully it off the perch, i had this with one of my hens, when she was moulting, but she soon rejoined the others on the perch by her self (she was "roosting" on the floor so i put her up at dusk each day)