Delaware won't roost

[townhen]

I have a 15 week old Delaware who won't roost on the perch with the other hens at bedtime. The perch is 2 feet off the coop floor, and all but one of the other hens are also heavy breeds, and they have no problem hopping up to the perch. I added a "booster" perch some 6 inches off the ground, but the Delaware doesn't use that, either to perch on or to hop up to the perch she is supposed to be using. She is the last one in the coop at night, and she will instead sleep on the floor unless I place her onto the perch. They have been in the coop for weeks now, and I don't know how else I can encourage her roost up off the floor - I need some suggestions. Will it come with time? Is it likely that she is physically unable to hop up onto her perch?

 

[jen61871]

I hope you get some helpful hints because I have 7 hens and none of the sleep on their roosts at night and I'm not sure what to do about it. I do know they know how to get on the bars I see them on them in the morning waiting for me to open the coop but I know from peeking in the coop at dusk and also by where their night time droppings are located that they are not using the bars but laying on the floor

 

[townhen]

How old are your hens? I'm hoping that the issue may resolve as the Delaware gets older, but I want to get her in the habit of perching at night before I add the nest box to the coop, or I'm afraid she might take to sleeping in the nest box instead.

 

[jen61871]

I have 3 around 6 months and 4 around 8 or 9 months. I really don't understand why they don't use the roosts. I thought that came naturally. I haven't tried putting them on at night as they lay together and separate in different spots of the coop. Only one is laying in a nesting box that I know of and I think that is because she is broody right now