Perching problems

[rocketman]

Hi, this is my first post, so go easy on me

. I have had a look through the forum but can't find the specific information I am after.

I have recently built a new coop. I don't have any photos to upload right now but it is based on this chicken coop design. The design is brilliant in its simplicity, but I am having problems getting my hens to perch. Some of them have been sleeping in the nest and making a mess.

There is plenty of room inside the coop, and the perches are higher than the nest (a design factor which I thought was supposed to prevent this problem). Each bird has about 30cm of perch space and the perches are a comfortable jumping height (about 30cm off the ground).

These same birds have been good perches in the past, but they seem to have suddenly decided that the nests are more attractive to sleep in.

Any ideas?

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

What I do if I have this problem is to block off the nest boxes before they go in for the night, then unblock them the next morning so that they have access to lay. After a few times of doing this they should get the idea.

 

[gryeyes]

Each standard sized (not bantam) chicken needs about 8 inches of roost space. They won't take up that much space once they're settled down, but they need it for flapping and turning when they first jump up.

If the roost is in a draft, they won't like it.

One way to stop chickens from sleeping in nest boxes is to close them off at night and uncover them in the morning when you let them out of the coop for the day.

Chickens get bothered by changes and will need some time to adjust to new surroundings. I had a couple of mine choose to sleep on the floor, or in the nest boxes until I realized I didn't have enough roost space for them all at the level they liked to sleep. I had a lower roost and they only used that to jump to the higher one. Once I added a second roost (or perch) at the same height, they all used the roost bars.

 

[boogiedog]

The first week or so in my new coop everyone slept in the boxes; now they are on the roosts. I think they just needed to get secure in their new surroundings. I didn't have block of the boxes - they moved themselves.

 

[patandchickens]

First, did you follow that website's suggestion to use PVC for the roost bar? Cuz if you did, that may well be at least part of your problem. Chickens really do NOT much care to roost on PVC. Switch to a piece of 2x4 or large-diameter dead branch and see if that helps.

Second, what climate are you in and how hot is the coop, because I cannot see much in the way of ventilation there and it is not impossible they are sleeping lower down in the nestboxes because of being cooler there.

There are other possibilities but looking at that design (which may be simple but honestly is not all that chickenfriendly) those would be my top two guesses.

You can manually put them onto the roost, after dark, every night and if the roost is basically ok they will soon learn to go there themselves. However if there is a REASON they are avoiding the roost, no amount of manual relocation will change their preferences.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[teach1rusl]

I stepped through each page and I didn't see ANY ventilation. Does it have any ventilation??? Because I'm thinking that this coop would become very hot inside if not, especially if the plastic paneling is somewhat translucent like in the photos. If that's the case, then they may very well be staying low where it's cooler.
And I would definitely use a wooden perch. Also, I would use a little chicken wire or something to block off the nest boxes (assuming that there actually is ventilation in the coop and it's not a hotbox) for the night until they learn to use the roost.

 

[rocketman]

Thanks, teach1rusl (and others)

Its very well ventilated because of the corrugated lining (which has gaps around the edge). If you are referring to the photo on this page, it looks like they have theirs under some trees. I have opted to paint my roof for the reason's you mention. It works just as well as iron or plywood, but much cheaper

. You couldn't use ply on this design anyway because, as you say, it wouldn't have enough ventilation.

I think I'll try boogiedog's suggestion of blocking the nest at night, though whether I remember to go out each night and do it will be another story.

I'm using painted wood for the perches.

I think its really just 2 birds out of 7 that are causing the problem. The rest are perching fine and in general they seem to love their new coop.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Honestly, that would be good ventilation for (say) a storage shed, at least if it were in the shade-- but it is really INADEQUATE for chickens (who produce a lot of water vapor and ammonia) and/or if the sun is shining on it for even just part of the day. A *lot* more ventilation really works a whole lot better.

Put a max-min thermometer in there, just above roost level, and see what it sez.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[NattiFan]

I am no expert here......but I hope you've made some modifications to the design. Honestly, that looks like a box with a lid...are there any windows?? Ok, back to your question.....I'd say the advice of blocking the nests off at night and unblocking them during the day should give them the hint......but honestly.....that doesn't seem like a very good idea for a coop for your chickens...sorry

 

[rocketman]

To clarify, the chickens don't live in the coop, they have free range of a large fenced off area. They go into the coop to lay their eggs and to sleep at night (of their own accord).

Even so, perhaps I will see about adding a little extra ventilation.

As I said, I think 5 out of 7 are going in and perching at night. Meanwhile two are going in and sleeping in the nest.