How can I get the girls to roost elsewhere

[mikesgirl1990]

We have free range chickens and they have chosen to roost at night on the front porch railing...needless to say the mess is pretty uninviting...DH and I used to go out and have coffee there in the morning...not so much now! So how can I discourage roosting there. TIA

 

[Mahonri]

Get a coop with roosts, water and feed hanging inside. Keep them in there for at least a week without letting them out.

Let them out about an hour before sunset. If they don't go back into the coop, but to the porch, leave them a few more days in the coop and let them out a half an hour before sunset.

They'll eventually learn to sleep where you put them.

Oh, and BTW... Welcome to BYC... so glad you are here.