Non Roosting Chickens

[Chelseyb123]

During the summer/fall half of my flock the younger ones wouldnt rooster. Not that there wasnt space ect i just had to go in before bed pick them up an put them on the roosts. Ever since ive had no problems everyone roosts at night.

 

[aplummer101]

I had two higher roost bars and one lower and it was funny that the different breeds used the different bars. I also put a ramp up to the higher ones that may have helped when the birds were younger. I would add a four inch board to the bottom front of your nest to keep straw in and eggs from possibly rolling out also. The above recommendations of space from the wall and from underneath will help the roost set up. Good Luck I hope I helped.

 

[Palinor]

Yes. It will stop them sleeping in them. If birds sleep in nesting boxes, they sometimes refuse to lay in them.

Well they still lay in them. We have an automatic door that opens in the morning and the girls lay independently throughout the day. I worry that if we block the nesting boxes they'll lay somewhere else

 

[Palinor]

Do you have a bully chicken, or are your nesting box hens not being allowed on the roost? My chickens have similar behavior. For mine, this is space issue and also has to do with their group dynamic. The two roosting bars are parallel and too close to coup floor. It was a poor design. The nesting boxes are to the side, and the tops of them are higher than the roosting bars. Out of the four girls, we have a boss, her enforcer, and two subordinates. They are very bonded and don't really bully each other too much except when Daisy, the chicken with the lowest rank, is too presumptuous. They clearly care about her though as I posted here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...r-unhappy-cold-chicken.1216749/#post-19428150. The boss always sleeps on top of the nesting box with her enforcer across from her. The other two either roost or sleep in the nesting boxes under the other chickens. I feel like they may rotate to share the warmth. In summer they all sleep on the roof, and rotate who is on the far end, except the boss who is always in front.

well it's funny because they all get along but there's one dominant one and she's one of the ones that sleeps on the ground!

 

[Chullicken]

You'll read every where its a requirement for chickens to roost..this simply isn't true. Just a camp of thought much like anything else. Keep it predator proof and clean and you shouldn't have any parasite issues. I have an odd bunch, they have several 2 x 4 flat side up roost yet some like to roost length wise. Much like the flat roost vs. the round roost. (I'm a flat roost guy btw) I have several who down right refuse to roost on a bar and prefer a box or simply a pile of sawdust in the corner. It's more about how safe they feel in their environment. I personally feel going out every night to pick them up and put them on a bar is ridiculous and seemingly more stressful to them interrupting their zone out time, than to just let them do what they feel like doing in their house.

I'd really consider changing up your roost and layer box set up as suggested. Other than that enjoy your birds!

 

[Palinor]

You'll read every where its a requirement for chickens to roost..this simply isn't true. Just a camp of thought much like anything else. Keep it predator proof and clean and you shouldn't have any parasite issues. I have an odd bunch, they have several 2 x 4 flat side up roost yet some like to roost length wise. Much like the flat roost vs. the round roost. (I'm a flat roost guy btw) I have several who down right refuse to roost on a bar and prefer a box or simply a pile of sawdust in the corner. It's more about how safe they feel in their environment. I personally feel going out every night to pick them up and put them on a bar is ridiculous and seemingly more stressful to them interrupting their zone out time, than to just let them do what they feel like doing in their house.

I'd really consider changing up your roost and layer box set up as suggested. Other than that enjoy your birds!

Thank you for this information! We're going to change the set up and bit and see if something else works but I would rather not disturb my girls unless I have too

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Another thought could be cold. My girls have plenty of roost space, and all through the summer, they all roosted. Since the cold came in, about half of them all snuggle up on the floor together in a chicken pile. I'm assuming to keep each other warm.

 

[Chullicken]

Thank you for this information! We're going to change the set up and bit and see if something else works but I would rather not disturb my girls unless I have too

I have to apologize, I feel a day later my post is a bit brash and jagged. Was not and never will be the case, it's just how I write. Retired police officer and veteran, I spent 20 years being very direct and to the point without regard to anything, other than the exact subject. I am so glad you saw it that way, I hope everyone did as well! Good luck to you and your feather babies! Keep the updates coming along, great information to be found here.

 

[Palinor]

I have to apologize, I feel a day later my post is a bit brash and jagged. Was not and never will be the case, it's just how I write. Retired police officer and veteran, I spent 20 years being very direct and to the point without regard to anything, other than the exact subject. I am so glad you saw it that way, I hope everyone did as well! Good luck to you and your feather babies! Keep the updates coming along, great information to be found here.

No offense taken! You're talking to a cops daughter here!

 

[Elanda]

I have 3 x 17 week old RIR girls who sleep piled up in the corner. I purchased them at 14 weeks and they had not had a roost previously. They do move to the roost early in the morning though, so I presume they are happy with the size/style of the roost (4 × 2).
I'm just a bit worried that when I bring a nesting box in they will use that.