I made too many changes in my coop!

[Georgie3x]

Hi everyone,
I have read a bunch on this site and decided I should join finally. I started with 2 hens and a rooster a year ago. 3 weeks ago, my rooster sprained his ankle. I am confident about that after I read many posts. He has started walking better, a little wobbly and limping a little, but he roosts on the ground now in a corner. The hens kept roosting but they shifted closer to where the rooster wanted to be on the ground. I had to change things around a bit because I incubatted some chicks and had to.divide a new area. So I made a new perch in a different spot and the hens will not roost now. It is made similarly as the one they used, except I lowered it to about 2 feet to prevent future sprains. My hens either don't understand there is a new perch, OR, they are not sure where to go with the rooster on the ground in a new area. It is a problem because one hen sleeps in the nesting box. The other hen found an unintended spot in a corner where the rooster sleeps. Will they start to roost together again once the rooster can get up higher again? I don't know what the issue is.

 

[orloffer]

Welcome to BYC! There is so much to see, do, and learn here!

Will they start to roost together again once the rooster can get up higher again?

I should think they will, but I am not an expert.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Sounds like the new bar is either in a spot they don't like (i.e before they had a window to look out of, and now they don't) or is way too low for their liking, which is why you're not having an issue with a hen in the nest box. Is the roost still higher than nest boxes?

Photos may help.

 

[aart]

Photos may help.

Yes, please.


Might try a ramp to the roost...
...or put them on their roost after dark until the get with the new game.
...or just wait for them to get used to the new setup.

 

[TARDIS37379]

My girls get upset if I move their roosts. Mine are movable but even a couple of feet and they won’t use them. I turned them 90 degrees and they stopped using them.
my two roosters will roost near each other but the parade at bedtime if for dominance and superiority. The hens follow the alpha rooster and the pecking order affects the roosting. I have one young chick, who at 9 weeks is trying to get himself settled as he joins the main flock without mom’s help. He has finally been allowed on the roosts after sleeping on top of some of the nesting boxes for a week or so.
Bottom line, your hens like what they like and they don’t like change.

 

[Georgie3x]

Sounds like the new bar is either in a spot they don't like (i.e before they had a window to look out of, and now they don't) or is way too low for their liking, which is why you're not having an issue with a hen in the nest box. Is the roost still higher than nest boxes?

Photos may help.

Yes, the nest box is about 18" up and the new perch is about 2.5 or 3 feet with a ramp up. They are actually closer to the only window now. I guess I will try putting it in a different spot.

 

[Georgie3x]

I am attaching my new setup for the older chickens.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Hmm don't see any reason they shouldn't want to use it. If it's safe for the roo to be roosting again, might want to grab them all at night and manually place them on the roost, and continue doing so until they "get it." Chickens do hate change so that could be part of it, plus the roo's injury.

 

[aart]

I guess I will try putting it in a different spot.

Looks OK to me, if taht roost is at least 12" away from the wall.
You need to give them time to get used to any changes.

 

[Georgie3x]

Looks OK to me, if taht roost is at least 12" away from the wall.
You need to give them time to get used to any changes.

It is about 12" from the wall, but I didn't think they needed that much room. My rooster used to roost up on the perch on a tapered section that was only 6" from the wall and he is a pretty big fella. I will reconsider that aspect if I have to remount it somewhere.