Overcrowding problem

[moodlymoo]

I have 17 pullets total. 3 bantam millie fleur cochins who are about 20 weeks, 2 BLRW's who are living in my garage because of growth problems, and 12 other chickens who range from8-12 weeks. The 15 chickens live in a 10x10 coop with 4 nesting boxes and a 10ft 2x4 roosting pole. The 3 bannys sleep on top of one of the nest boxes and the other 12 cram into 1 nest box together. I have scooted them out at night, put a basket ball in the nest box, and even gone out late at night and moved everyone to the roost pole. Problem is...no sooner do I get one onto the roost they jump right back off and run to the nest box. Sometimes they all "pig pile" on top of each other in a corner. I am worried some of the littler ones will get hurt by the bigger ones.

How long is it going to take to teach these girls to sleep on the roost and not the box? What else can I do to stop this behavior?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Try putting some of the older girls on the roost after dark. Use a flashlight or feel your way. They won't move if it's pitch dark.
If a couple start roosting the rest will follow soon enough.

 

[moodlymoo]

It is pitch black in there. I used my cell phone for light last night. No one would stay on the roost. I have to put up some plywood at an angle over the nest boxes to keep my bannys from sleeping there but Im very worried about the 12 sleeping in 1 nest box. They sleep in the same one every night and I have to clean it daily because its a poopie mess every morning

 

[Batty about Banties]

I had this problem too. I just went out every night and put them on the roosts until eventually they figured it out. Good Luck

 

[darin367]

could be that your using a 2x4 for a roosting pole..... go to the hardware store or lumber yard and get a 10 ft., 1 inch round dowell... you might need to put a brace in at 5 ft, making a great big "T"....... 2X4 NOT GOOD FOR ROOSTING POLE...

 

[moodlymoo]

Quote:
Ive been told by tons of people to use the 2x4. Its turned sideways and they love it during the day. I had a 1in dowel and they rarely would get on it plus their little feet were touching which I was told was a nono because their toes wouldnt stay warm tat way

 

[welasharon]

The 2x4 is fine for a roost. How high is it? You can close up the front of the nest box so they can't get in it with cardboard if needed.
sharon

 

[moodlymoo]

Quote:
Id say its about 2ft off the bedding.

 

[donrae]

So, no one's laying right now, am I right? Then block off the entrance to the nest boxes and keep it blocked off all the time. They might not roost, but maybe they won't crowd so much. They'll roost when they're ready. I've never heard of a year old chicken that still sleeps on the ground. *opens floodgates for folks to tell me of their chicken that does just that, just to prove me wrong*

 

[Queen of the chickens]

Try using a red light when moving your chickens onto the roost. It doesn't seem to disturb them as much. Many animals can not see the red light.