Grownup chickens wont roost

[StinkyAcres]

Thanks they are well above the nests for sure. And they perch on them sometimes during the day so I think I might just have to block the nests at night to make them use the roosts.

What kind of roosting bars? 2x2s, 2x4s, branches?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Hmmm…if they can roost but they don’t roost at night that tells me there is something else going on. Often it’s a matter of ventilation. Especially in the summer time

 

[Ridgerunner]

they all lay on the floor of the coop instead of roosting on the bars basically on top of each other. My concern is some lay in the nests.

I understand this means sleep

They are all sleeping in the nests and now 2 are laying eggs as well. They are honestly a bit silly.

I assume all means all six?

I wish! No it is only the 6 new ones now so no one to learn from but plus side is they also aren't bottom of the pecking order

If it is only 6 new ones how can they be not at the bottom of the pecking order? Not at the top also?? Or are only certain ones of them doing something?

I'll admit to being confused. I think you have 6 pullets 14 weeks old that some or all are sleeping in the nests with maybe some sleeping on the floor. None are sleeping on the roosts but they can get to the roosts if they want to since they go up there to play during the day. Does your coop get so dark so fast that they cannot see to get to the roosts when it gets dark enough outside to send them in to the coop? Maybe you need a window?

What happens when you put them on the roosts? Do they stay up there or hop back down? If your coop is dark enough they should stay up there, maybe use a flashlight to move them. If they stay up you should not need to block the nests. If they do hop down and go to the nests you need to block the nests but be out there early enough that the nests are available when they wake up.

Each of us have different set-ups and each brood can be radically different, even if we think they are in an identical situation. It is part of the joys and frustration of raising chickens. Stick with it and you will work it out.

 

[MommyGirl]

My daughter in law had the same problem. Her chickens would not roost and they had just started laying eggs and were still sleeping on the floor. She was using a rather skinny roost so I built her a wider roost out of 2 x 4s wide side up and first night they were all on the roost maybe they just didn’t like the skinny roost who knows

 

[Msdvm113]

Thank you everyone for all the help! I blocked in the nests for 2 nights and lo and behold the silly things just jumped up and started roosting! I love my chickens but I don't understand them sometimes! Lol