Girls have figured out how to get in and out of the coop!!

[TurkeyJohn]

I was afraid I was going to have usher them in and our every morning and night, but the last 2 days, the girls have figured out how to walk up the ramp in the evening, and then walk or fly down in the morning. I don't sleep in, but when I get out there, they're waiting for me to open their door, and before I leave, they've left the building. I guess they need their breaky and water after a nights sleep. No eggs yet, just poos in their boxes. Seem to like sleeping in the nest box, not on their perch, maybe I need to put one lower or is sleeping in the nest box ok?

John

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Sleeping in the box is not ok unless you like cleaning it every day. The roosts need to be higher than the nests and until you break them of the habit you need to close off the nests at night.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Sleeping in the box is not ok unless you like cleaning it every day. The roosts need to be higher than the nests and until you break them of the habit you need to close off the nests at night.

X2. Great advice.

 

[TurkeyJohn]

So, I've taken the advice and last night built one of the portable perches from the Chickens Magazine. 2 sides and 2 perches. I also put emply pots into the nesting boxes to keep the girls out and to encourage the use of the new perch.

What a production we went through.

The girls go up the ramp and then come down the ramp after peering in to see things "different".

This goes on for an hour as it's getting darker and darker. When I finally went out to help them out. 2 had gone in and the third was still nervous on the ramp. I ushered her in and closed the door. At least they were in the coop now.

Well, it wasn't over, after trying to get into the nest through the side of the new perch, they finally decided to walk up it. I thought, great, they're getting it. Was I fooled, they were doing the same thing as on the ramp, up and down, trying to figure out, I assume, how to get the pots out so they could get in. I gave up on them and went inside myself. When I did check on them at my bedtime, they were sleeping on the floor under the perch.

I moved the pots this morning when I let them out. Wonder what tonight will bring.

Any idea of how long before they're comfortable with the new set up? Not an egg yet, so not worrying about them stopping from the stress, though it may be delayed now,

John

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They're creatures of habit. How old are they?
If they're 18 weeks or younger, I would board up the entrance to the nests till they get out of the habit of sleeping in them.
If they're laying age just block them off at night.
Make sure the roosts are wide enough. About 2 inches is good. They don't perch like tree birds do. A wide roost allows them to cover their toes in freezing weather.
If you fret over them, you can go out at night, pick them up and place them on the roosts or just wait and they'll eventually get the urge to sleep as high as they can get.

 

[TurkeyJohn]

Thanks for the tips, bought them as Ready to Lay, so not sure how old that makes them. They still have quite pink combs and wattles, so don't think quite old enough yet, but soon I hope,

One slept "sort of" roosted on the board that forms the bottom of the portable perch. So part way there,

I'm afraid that if I don't let them "get it" themselves and handle them, I'd only stress them more than needed.

I'll wait and see and report as events warranted,

TurkeyJohn