How do I train my chickens where to roost?

[Justchickenaround]

I recently did a major upgrade to my chicken yard, and it is now fully covered. Before, I had an enclosed hutch and the yard was only partially covered. I also have a ladder in the yard that the girls like to spend time on. However, now that the yard is fully roofed, they have started roosting at night on the top bar of the ladder, instead of going into the hutch. I don't really mind it so much because it's completely enclosed so nothing can get them, but when winter comes I want to make sure they go inside to stay warm. Also, I'm integrating some pullets and I don't want the younger ones to develop the same habit and make it harder to retrain the whole flock. Am I being paranoid about this? Will they go inside when it gets cold, or should I try to retrain them to roost in the hutch? They still go in there to lay, so I don't think it's that they have an aversion to the hutch itself. Thanks for your help!

 

[BlueBaby]

Hello, and welcome to BYC! It seem's that if they don't roost on their own, you pick them up and put them there after it starts getting dark. Then they start getting the idea about it.

 

[alexa009]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens! Glad you joined the flock! BYC is a very helpful and informative about poultry! Hope you enjoy it here as much as we all do!

 

[BY Bob]

Sometimes coops can be too dark and the hens can stay out late enough that the coop is too dark to roost in, hence the outside roosting. Usually a light in the coop will bring them in. Use that for a few nights and they will get used to roosting there.

They need to see the coop as home. Sometimes you need to lock them in the coop for a couple of days for them to develop that sense of home. Now that only works if you have enough space in your coop to hold them for a few days. Or you can keep putting them back onto the roost each night until they get it.

If none of this works you may have an invader in your coop, insect or rodent, that makes it unpleasant to sleep there.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hello and welcome to BYC - thanks for joining us. You have some good advice above which I’m sure will help.

This is a useful link relating to guides to read through - https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/website-announcements-feedback-issues-guides.3/?prefix_id=3


You can use this link to contact members in your area - Find your State's thread.

Best wishes

Pork Pie

 

[Sinful chick]

I recently did a major upgrade to my chicken yard, and it is now fully covered. Before, I had an enclosed hutch and the yard was only partially covered. I also have a ladder in the yard that the girls like to spend time on. However, now that the yard is fully roofed, they have started roosting at night on the top bar of the ladder, instead of going into the hutch. I don't really mind it so much because it's completely enclosed so nothing can get them, but when winter comes I want to make sure they go inside to stay warm. Also, I'm integrating some pullets and I don't want the younger ones to develop the same habit and make it harder to retrain the whole flock. Am I being paranoid about this? Will they go inside when it gets cold, or should I try to retrain them to roost in the hutch? They still go in there to lay, so I don't think it's that they have an aversion to the hutch itself. Thanks for your help!

Sometimes coops can be too dark and the hens can stay out late enough that the coop is too dark to roost in, hence the outside roosting. Usually a light in the coop will bring them in. Use that for a few nights and they will get used to roosting there.

They need to see the coop as home. Sometimes you need to lock them in the coop for a couple of days for them to develop that sense of home. Now that only works if you have enough space in your coop to hold them for a few days. Or you can keep putting them back onto the roost each night until they get it.

If none of this works you may have an invader in your coop, insect or rodent, that makes it unpleasant to sleep there.

My 3 babies roost in the same spot every night and , like clockwork, I go out every evening and carry each one of them, individually all the way to the coop they are SUPPOSED to sleep in. I must admit, the 10 minutes that I get to spend with each one alone is wonderful because we have our own private conversation! (I’m sure the neighbors see me conversing with my birds and think I’m nuts...) But I have kinda the same question...How can I get them to go there by themselves? Lighting really makes a difference? If so, do I need to leave a light on for them all night?

 

[Pork Pie]

My 3 babies roost in the same spot every night and , like clockwork, I go out every evening and carry each one of them, individually all the way to the coop they are SUPPOSED to sleep in. I must admit, the 10 minutes that I get to spend with each one alone is wonderful because we have our own private conversation! (I’m sure the neighbors see me conversing with my birds and think I’m nuts...) But I have kinda the same question...How can I get them to go there by themselves? Lighting really makes a difference? If so, do I need to leave a light on for them all night?

Leave a flashlight on until they have entered the coop and have roosted. You can then turn the light off.

 

[Sinful chick]

Leave a flashlight on until they have entered the coop and have roosted. You can then turn the light off.

THANKS!!!

 

[drumstick diva]

Or put in a light on a timer. Have it go on maybe 20 minutes before dusk and stay on till 20 minutes after. That will give them time to get settled before the coop goes dark.
Chickens generally will not move in the dark - so hopefully they stay put on the roost.

 

[BY Bob]

In case you do not have power to your coop. They have cheap lights that are battery powered that you can stick to the wall. Flip the switch before dusk and flip it back off after dark. Cheap and simple solution, it's just manual.