My girls won't roost in their brand new coop at night...

[Ole rooster]

Bootsie.......so with external nest boxes how would I arrange the curtains? I envisioned a curtain like a stage would have. With a cord drawn curtain across the front.

 

[chickenwithlips94]

I had the same problem when I moved my flock from their "baby" home to their permanent home. They kept trying to go back. I built a run for them and kept them closed in it so that the coop was the only place they could roost. It only took a few days, and now they can free range and will return to the coop at night.

 

[AZBootsie]

Quote:
Yeah, I can see my explanation isn't so hot. No big drape arrangement....just the nogahide and staples. Here are thumbnails of my layers coop. Warning the coop is dirty atm. It's monsoon season here and I just use a sand floor.

maybe they lay inside of the boxes because they read my sign!!

 

[Indy]

I recently got 5 new pullets and on their first night in the coop/run they found a 2 x 2 in the run to snuggle up on so that is where they were. What I did eventually is cover or remove/block any other choices other than the roosts in the coop. But that one night I had to pick them up one by one and put them in the coop. Within a few days they were totally with the program. No options is a plan.

 

[lillyman]

Indy; when i built my coop/ pen ,my 5 wk old chickens first night out side was in two medium sized dog crates to try to get them used to being outside. then I placed the birds into the coop/pen and that first night in it i had to put each one into the coop . The next night only half had to be moved , the third night all went into the coop on there own . they are now 7wks old...

 

[peepblessed]

Quote:
Agree!