Hen wont sleep on roost!

[anvia]

Maybe she’s still settling in too?
As Sunshine Flock said as long as her feet are ok and she has somewhere safe from the poo of those who do roost to snuggle - I wouldn’t worry. Once they find their pecking order things will settle down, just be sure she’s not guarding the nesting boxes though and stopping the others laying. How many do you have? If there is plenty of space can you give her her own cardboard box in her favourite spot?
We have found with the ex batts we calculate their space differently because they don’t roost, so they can get their feathers in a ruffle when they’ve identified their sleeping space and then some other hen who sleeps on a stick thinks it’s her right to come in & mess up the bed & lay an egg there in the day time - Outrageous! - & you can kind of see where they are coming from...
As long as their is plenty of space & boxes & territory to claim they will sort themselves out.

 

[anvia]

One other thing to be aware of with ground nesters is that they can be more prone to lice & bugs ect from prolonged close contact with the bedding. We use d.e. sprinkled in their bedding. I appreciate some others will have views on this. It’s something to be aware of and decide what prevention / control solutions suit you.

 

[radar3321]

Ok so they are still roosting on the floor which I have just given into letting them be. The newest issue is they both have been molting for over a month and now one has lost the red vibrent color on her waddle and I just feel like i cannot make them happy. They are eating just fine and acting ok, just one has never laid for me and the other one stopped once she started molting. anyone have any ideas on this? Willing to do about anything at this point.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You can up the protein level of their food to help them through the molt, but until it's over they won't lay, won't want to be touched, will lose color in combs, wattles and even their eyes. They're not mad at you, they're just cranky because it's uncomfortable having all those new feathers trying to grow in.

 

[aart]

You have 3 adult(over one year old) birds that you just got when you started this thread?
Moving stress will stop egg production...
...time of year for molting, they don't lay when molting.
Are these your first chickens?

 

[radar3321]

You have 3 adult(over one year old) birds that you just got when you started this thread?
Moving stress will stop egg production...
...time of year for molting, they don't lay when molting.
Are these your first chickens?

i have two adult hens that i am worried about. The one has never layed for me (previous owner swears she laid) and then one who stopped once she molted. Just taking way longer for them to get through all this then i thought.

 

[aart]

i have two adult hens that i am worried about. The one has never layed for me (previous owner swears she laid) and then one who stopped once she molted. Just taking way longer for them to get through all this then i thought.

It's fall.... they are molting..they won't lay when they are molting.
They are also stressed from being in a new place.
As long as they are eating drinking pooping and moving around OK....they are probably fine.
Do not over-react....
...just provide them with decent chicken ration fresh plain water...
...and some patience.