not using perchs

[julieseggs]

i have 13 4month old hens they did not come from the same batch. my coop has several perchs for them to roost. i also have my nest boxs in place and they are blocked off for now. all 13 get on the flat board on top of the nest box to sleep. will they continue to all gather in one spot or will they start useing the post for sleeping when they start laying any help

 

[mangled]

Try putting a board slanted at an angle on the top of the nest boxes. That way, when they try to fly up, they just slide right off.

We had to do that to get some of our hens up to the roosts. They were making a terrible poopy mess of the top of the nest boxes, too.

Em

 

[Chirpy]

I agree that you need to put a slanted board across the top of the nest boxes so they can't roost there. Then, you will probably need to go in at night for days or a couple of weeks and put them on the roosts. They should get the idea after a while and start to use them by themselves.

 

[rooster-red]

Are your perches lower than the nest box?

They tend to roost on the highest place possible.

 

[patandchickens]

Make sure the roost is higher than the top of the nest box; make sure it's easy for them to get to the roost; and make sure it's not too narrow for their comfort (suggest a 2x4 laid with the wide side facing up). And make sure it doesn't have a draft pointed directly down on it.

Also if it is a habit you may need to go out there after nightfall and manually relocate 'em to the roost. After several nights they will probably get the clue, assuming there is nothing else to discourage them from using the roost.

Good luck,

Pat