getting chickens to roost inside the house

[Sioux7]

My coop has two roosts out side the hen house and one insde. You would think the girls would want to roost inside now that we are having 27 degree nights, but they are still roosting on the roosts out side the hen house but inside the coop.

My husband wants to take down the roosts outside for winter. Is this a good idea? The hen house has a light inside, but what good is that if they are roosting out side the house? This is my first winter, so I'm still learning. Susan

 

[groundpecker]

Once they get used to roosting somewhere, it is hard to break them from roosting there. a few of my birds like to roost outside, so i let them. They will crowd together for warmth on those cold nights.

You could take away the light, remove the outside roost, and put them in the coop each evening. they should learn to roost in the coop in a few days.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

As it gets dark, the outside roosts are likely easier to see and so they go there. I would either shut them in for at least 3 days so they get into the routine for roosting inside or remove the outside roosts until they have roosted inside for a week and then put them back. You could also consider adding a small light in the coop around bedtime. They will go inside toward the light as it gets dark.

 

[Sioux7]

Ah, I will try this. The light was on the inside of the hen house though. I call the Coop, the outer area that includes the run. It is completely under cover. The house has a ladder they climb every day to get to their nest box where they go every day.

In side the house is a roost as well as the two that are in the outer area. Some how I don't feel as if I'm explaining this well. It's like the gardencoop.com.

 

[Sioux7]

I think this is what I will do and see if this works. Many thanks to both suggesters of solutions.

 

[galanie]

Could be they are avoiding the light too. Locking them in it is the best idea. Removing the outside roosts isn't too bad but they do like a place to roost outside during the day.