New chickens raised by me won't roost

[rosemarythyme]

The reason for doing it once it's completely dark is because they're less likely to jump off if they can't see.

 

[Weazerdogg]

Ahhh, never thought of that.

 

[Weazerdogg]

Here is the roosting spot. Next pic is the chicken doorway that can be shut, top is a window of double pane plexiglass. Last is the nesting box for 6 hens, four regular and an "open top" one on top, just put a railing around the top to hold the straw. Oh, and you can't see it very well but it does have a rough hewn lumber ceiling. I had had dowels on the steps up the ladder but read they don't really like the round roosts so changed it out to pieces of 1 X 2.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Here is the roosting spot. Next pic is the chicken doorway that can be shut, top is a window of double pane plexiglass. Last is the nesting box for 6 hens, four regular and an "open top" one on top, just put a railing around the top to hold the straw. Oh, and you can't see it very well but it does have a rough hewn lumber ceiling. I had had dowels on the steps up the ladder but read they don't really like the round roosts so changed it out to pieces of 1 X 2.

Is it normally that dark in there or is that the camera? If it's too dark they can't see the navigate to the roosts.

You mentioned changing out the roosts on the ladder from dowels but 1x2s are too thin and narrow. They're also set at an angle as opposed to parallel to the ground, which would force birds to sit on the sharper edge as opposed to the flat part, so it's not something chickens would choose to use.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

An additional thought is that, depending on the exact species, locust trees can have vicious thorns. Is it possible that there are one or two thorns on the locust bough that you missed?

Agree with the possibility of it being too dark. Maybe a battery-powered nightlight would help.

 

[BDutch]

Did you try to put up a light (maybe with a timer)?
Are these Sussex chickens for industrial framing of the heritage kind of Sussexes?
Laying double yolk eggs is nog normal. Laying an egg every day is not either.
Ik hope its not that they feel sick bc of inbreeding.

Other possibilities you can try:

• Make a window in the coop. It's better for the chickens health too, to get some sunlight in a coop.
• No bedding on the floor (only in the nestboxes) as long as it is not seriously freezing.
• Give them a plank without sharp edges (sanded) to roost on, about ⅓ - ½ ft from the floor. Put it on the spot where they sleep. And if the chickens lay down, put them on the plank every evening 3 - 4 weeks on a row. They get used to it.
• Make a curtain/cardboard between the new plank-roost and the old chickens roost area.
• Make sure the new chickens do not need to be seen by the older ones, if they enter the coop.