Integration question about night time coop entry

[aart]

Brilliant! Thank you so much!! I knew something was off, but I didn't know anything about chickens when we built the coop. I will do that this weekend and see what happens.

You might still have to put the birds up there if they aren't curious enough on their own,
either after dark or I do it during the day(with chicks) to watch their reactions and see if it prompts them to go up on their own.

 

[Chickiemom25]

I don't know how to change the big girl's behavior, they have always slept in the front of the coop. I tried putting them on the roost bars towards the back for weeks last summer and it never worked. Only 3 of my hens roost, the rest sleep in a pile on the floor (my girls are weirdos). Is there anything I can do change this behavior?

The pullets settle right in under those nesting boxes and, sometimes, they even roost on the back roosts. I have just been putting them in the coop before the big girls go in for the night.

put something in the spot they like to sleep. something wonky like a few large broom heads....

 

[milogirly]

Update: My husband and I made and installed the new poop tray/roost bar over the weekend. After the first night, the littles started going in by themselves and making their way to the new roost. The funny thing is my EE pullet makes sure the other 2 littles follow her in. She's such a good teacher!

The big girls are not so sure about the new setup, but I keep putting them up there anyway. Hopefully, they will get it figured out one of these days! Thanks again for all the helpful advice!

 

[aart]

The big girls are not so sure about the new setup, but I keep putting them up there anyway. Hopefully, they will get it figured out one of these days! Thanks again for all the helpful advice!

Great!
The new setup throwing off the older birds may actually help with the integration,
distracts them from destruction of the 'strangers', at least for a couple days maybe.

Wait, what...no pics?!?!

 

[milogirly]

Great!
The new setup throwing off the older birds may actually help with the integration,
distracts them from destruction of the 'strangers', at least for a couple days maybe.

Wait, what...no pics?!?!

Here is the finished product. Feist was the first one in to check it out. I made some modifications to the ladders and moved them forward a little to give the big girls some more space to use them.