My chickens won't roost

[KaelaM]

I was told not to put nests in until they were roosting as the last time I had chickens they were roosting on the edges of their nests and pooping all over them, it has worked great, we just put nests in and they are still roosting but didn't start until they were about 14 weeks,,,,,,,,,,,now 17 weeks

That makes sense, but the way the coop is built I would not have been able to do that.

 

[SilkieRose]

I just got a hen- Bovans Brown- almost a year old who isn't roosting. She has slept on the floor in the corner & layed an egg in her poop. All the others roost. The guy I bought her from had a large flock; I bought 5 , but she's the only one who doesn't roost? Help

 

[skiffgirl]

Did you say the roost bars are square? I am under the impression that most chickens do not like square bars because it hurts their feet and could do damage.

 

[SilkieRose]

I will have to look tomorrow, I just can't remember. All of the others are fine though... That's what is weird to me.

 

[Je33ieg]

my chickens wouldn't roost at first either; but after a few days it's like i couldn't get them off of it. and now that theyre older, sometimes they roost and sometimes they all try to sit in one nesting box together. just depends on their mood i guess!

 

[SilkieRose]

Ok! I think they're settled... Lola is roosting now, but there was a mystery egg on the coop floor that was cracked. My 10 year old took it out & the insides fell out outside... So I'm thinking that one of them got on top of the DIY nesting boxes I made & it rolled off. I don't think I have an egg- eater. Still watching though.

 

[shiral]

I have 16 week old austrolorps and they still aren't roosting.. strange birds ... LOL I have had chickens all my life and never ever ever seen chickens that wouldn't roost. One of the chicks starting roosting when she was about 3 weeks old but I guess since the others wouldn't join her she decided to join them in the huddle. I'm not worried about it they will or they won't I guess. They are finally friendly which took some doing as babies they would peck you so hard you would bleed .. now they are follow like puppies.

shiral

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Mine also tried to sleep in the nest box. After I removed it they started using the roost at night. You could at least block it off since you can't remove it..
Chickens are creatures of habit. Some get it faster than others. Find ways to peek their interest in the roost and give them a few days after the box is blocked, so they can figure it out and settle down.

Good luck!