My hens won't roost

[MamaDuke0613]

Every night I check my 6 BSL hens, and every night they are piled on top of each other in the nesting boxes. Why wont they sleep on the roosting bar? They couldn't possibly be cold, I live in NC. I'm worried it might cause a problem when they start laying.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

How old are these birds, what are you using for a roost bar and how is it located in the coop and in relation to the nest box? (Photos are hrlpful)

 

[MamaDuke0613]

My girls are 19 weeks old. I just went out to check on them and found my first egg. Right now they are in a small temporary coop. It's 6'x2'. There are 2 12"x12" nesting boxes on each end with a 4'- 1x2 in between for them to roost.

 

[sfgwife]

My girls are 19 weeks old. I just went out to check on them and found my first egg. Right now they are in a small temporary coop. It's 6'x2'. There are 2 12"x12" nesting boxes on each end with a 4'- 1x2 in between for them to roost.

The roost bars need be higher than the nest boxes. They should go to the highest spot to roost. But if your nest boxes are pretty much the same height as the roost maybe that is why they aren't usin it.

 

[Abriana]

My nineteen week olds and even twenty week olds are just starting to roost on the bottom roosting bar so they won't get pecked by the hens on the top, rather than sleeping in the nesting box. Some still do, and some sleep piled in a corner. I just let mine and they do it and are fine. They will grow out of it. I think you should just let them and no it won't cause a laying problem. My cockerel likes to sleep in the nesting box and it is pretty funny to go out at night and see a cockerel "brooding" on some eggs!

 

[aart]

My girls are 19 weeks old. I just went out to check on them and found my first egg. Right now they are in a small temporary coop. It's 6'x2'. There are 2 12"x12" nesting boxes on each end with a 4'- 1x2 in between for them to roost.

Welcome to BYC.
4' is not enough roost length for 6 hens, they need at least 6'.
2' wide coop might not be enough room for them to get up, and especially down, from roost without crashing into something, like the wall.
1x2 might not be stable(flexing) or wide enough for their comfort.
So all that makes the nests far more comfy.

Bigger coop, longer roost, block nests between dusk and full dark until they get out of that habit.

 

[MamaDuke0613]

Thanks. I tried to tell the hubby it was too small, but he didn't listen. I'm working on a more open design now. I'll have 2 or 3- 4ft sections for roosting. Now I'm just waiting for more eggs to come.

 

[jhall1255]

Hi hopefully I can get some help on this thread, I'm having the same issue as the original poster. I have 6 hens and a roosting bar outside and one inside the coop. They are made from branches. I have 3 nesting boxes (will be 4) and they are off the ground in a table like hold that I made for the boxes. The bars are higher by almost 2 feet to the boxes. My problem is they use the bar in the run all the time but never use the one in the coop. They ALWAYS roost on the dang nesting boxes so the nesting boxes keep getting pooped in constantly or tipped over. I thought the bar was to low so I raised it, it is about 2-2.5 ft off the ground and the nesting boxes are raised about 15 inches from the ground. Now some use it here and there but rarely still. Any suggestions?? They are only 12 weeks old so not laying eggs. Any help is appreciated

 

[jhall1255]

My coop is also 8'x5' the bar is 4.5' long the one outside is 6'

 

[aart]

They ALWAYS roost on the dang nesting boxes so the nesting boxes keep getting pooped in constantly or tipped over.

The tipping issue needs to be fixed. I would think about reworking your nests, you really only need 2 nests for 6 birds, put them against the wall and put an angled roof(too steep to perch on) over them.

the bar is 4.5' long the one outside is 6'

They're gonna need more than 4.5' once they get bigger,
good rule of thumb is 1' per bird of roost length.

You might think about 3-4 nests under a roost/poop board combo along the 8' side of coop.