How do you encourage chucks to sleep on perches not in boxes?

[Princess_Layer]

Hia, I have 3 chucks and have now worked out why 2 of their vents are matted, they are sleeping in the nest boxes. The one who's sleeping on the perch is lovely and fluffy.

I've treated them all with VermX just in case of mites, but how can I encourage them to sleep on the perches.

Thanks in advance.

Becca

 

[patman75]

Block the nest boxes at night and put them on the roosts for about 1-2 weeks.

 

[backdoorchicken]

yeah what patma75 said

 

[Katy]

Make sure your roost is higher than your nest boxes.....chickens naturally want to roost on the highest spot.

 

[clayhill]

I had some that did that too. I hung a towel over the nest boxes until they got ready to lay. Worked great.

 

[Princess_Layer]

Wow such a simple suggestion. I'll block the nest boxes off tomorrow night as I know that 2 of them are in the boxes tonight and I hadn't been on here in time to read the responses.

Thanks for your help.

X

 

[alpinefarm]

Quote:
Also, I've found if you just make the nest boxes a little harder to get into in general...like a piece of fabric hung over the opening or a couple inch board placed horizontally along the front, it won't discourage them from using the nest boxes for laying but it *will* cause them to think of somewhere easier to roost when they are tired at night.

 

[Oakeyacres]

It makes life so much easier having the roost higher than the nests. That's the first thing I tell people about building coops.

Walter