How do you get chicks new to coop to not sleep in next boxes?

[maclady]

I have 4 7wk old BO chicks. I moved them into the coop the beginning of this week. First 2 nights the slept piled up together in a corner. Last night they slept in a nest box and tonight that is where they went again after I put them back into the coop. I have been letting them outside since it is so nice out. How do I get them to sleep on the roost? How do I get them to go into the coop at night? They go in during the day since that is where their food is at and they come back out on their own. Tonight it was getting dark and they were seriously cheeping away outside so I went and put them into their coop and closed the poop door. I am new to this so any information anyone can give me will be appreciated. I did think to maybe block off the nest boxes until they get closer to laying age but not sure that is what I should do.

 

[hennyannie]

You may have to place them on the roost several times before they get the picture. Also you may have to cover the nest box until they do, this is hard to break them of later when they are laying. I had two older hens in with mine so they figured out what everything was for from them.

 

[bburn]

I would cover the next boxes for a while. Our flock of babies, 29 of them, all slept piled in the corner for a long time.....then one at a time they started on the lowest roost. Finally they all moved up there.

They are still babies....give them some time....but cover the next boxes.....even with an old sheet/anything.

 

[mons02035]

I agree with the above post, I blocked mine off until I found eggs lying in the coop on the floor. Then, I opened them up and put a couple golf balls in each box and it has been working ever since.

 

[Egg Rookie 2010]

I have 16 that are ten weeks old and they all sleep mobbed together on TOP of the nest boxes (my "helpers" didnt follow the plans of a slanted roof) so I have to go out this weekend and fix that roof issue. I hope that will keep them off!

 

[hennyannie]

Quote:
My helpers(Hubby and father in law) did quite a few things that I now have to regret. One was nest boxes that are flat on top. I am thinking of putting pans up there and adding a long roost above.

 

[azygous]

Youngsters need to be shown how to enter the pop hole into the coop at night until they learn to do it on their own. If you can get one or two to go in, the rest will hear them inside and want to go in and join them. They have an intense instinct to want to roost together at night.

As for roosting on the perch, wait until it's dim, and place them on the perch. They shouldn't want to jump down if they can't see well.

After a while they'll learn that the perch is where they're supposed to sleep. Just don't let them develop the habit of sleeping in the nest box. Covering the boxes makes it easier, but you'll still need to place them up on the perch for up to a week before it feels natural to them.

 

[Ohhhdear]

If the roosts are at the same level or lower than the nest boxes, then the birds will naturally go to the higher place to sleep... the nest boxes.
Raise the roosts until they're higher than the nest boxes.

 

[spotstealer]

Quote:
How did the golf balls taste? lol lol lol

 

[maclady]

My roost for them is higher than the nest boxes. I even built a ladder for them to go up and down to the roost. I will block off the nest boxes this morning with a piece of plywood. I am not so worried if they sleep on the floor but knew in the nest boxes was not a good thing. My smallest Bo is also my bravest. She is the one that figured out the ramp to the poop door makes it easy to go in and out. The others followed her example eventually. I guess I will use her to help them figure out the roost thing. She (Miney) is the one in my avatar. Thank you to everyone that responded. I greatly appreciate the help.