Getting my chickens to use my coop.

[ltaylor53]

Utah. Yes, we have plug every hole we could find.

 

[RobertaD1]

I still think your coop is too small, I would still pull the nest boxes and make the whole thing roost space.

 

[CluckerFamily]

I'm also thinking the coop size is why they aren't going into it at night.
What about the length of your roosts? Is there enough room for them all on the roost in the coop with some space to provide gaps between them?

On a side note... since the coop and run is under your porch, do you have a light that stays on at night? I'm wondering if the light is a possible reason as to why they don't go into the coop but stay in the run.

 

[ltaylor53]

I'm also thinking the coop size is why they aren't going into it at night.
What about the length of your roosts? Is there enough room for them all on the roost in the coop with some space to provide gaps between them?

On a side note... since the coop and run is under your porch, do you have a light that stays on at night? I'm wondering if the light is a possible reason as to why they don't go into the coop but stay in the run.

 

[ltaylor53]

No, we don't have a porch light on. I started putting a light in the coop. Hoping the would attract them. Yes, they all like being on the roost, but again with the cold, I was concerned. I heard they a night blind, which is why I started running the light in the coop.

 

[ltaylor53]

No, we don't have a porch light on. I started putting a light in the coop. Hoping the would attract them. Yes, they all like being on the roost, but again with the cold, I was concerned. I heard they a night blind, which is why I started running the light in the coop.

 

[ltaylor53]

But they still would stay outside on the roost rather than come inside to roost.

 

[CluckerFamily]

But they still would stay outside on the roost rather than come inside to roost.

The roost in the run is nice and long and allows them plenty of space to move about on the roost and it has the wide side of the board the part they roost on. Is this the same setup you have in the coop?

 

[ltaylor53]

I

The roost in the run is nice and long and allows them plenty of space to move about on the roost and it has the wide side of the board the part they roost on. Is this the same setup you have in the coop?

 

[ltaylor53]

It's not a high off the ground, but there are two different level of roost in the coop. One is the same size of board, the other is a wider two by four.