Pullet refuses to roost with the rest...now what?

[SushiLove]

I have an 8wk. old Mottled Houdan who will only roost if I place her there. Otherwise she paces the floor looking at the roost and makes attempts at jumping up without success.
She has taken to sleeping on a brick on the coop floor instead.
I'm wondering why she is doing this. She obviously wants to be up there with her buddies.

For a roost pole I use a section of railing. Maybe it's her fifth toe throwing off her balance? Maybe the fifth toe plus obscured vision combo?

Otherwise she's healthy and sweet if not a bit dim.

Thank you everyone for your help!

 

[For-The-Love-Of-Chickens]

We had one pullet that just couldn't jump, no matter what. I think it was because her flight wing feathers took a lllooooonnggg time to grow in. So we put a couple of logs in front of the roost, step stool fashion so she could join the rest. We did this until her wings were strong enough to get the lift she needed to jump up to the roost, around 13 weeks if I remember correctly.

Sometimes they just need some extra help until they figure it out on their own!

 

[Jenski]

Could have hip or leg problems. Could also have minor vision problems. You might check both of those . . .

 

[SushiLove]

Quote:
Thanks an idea but I've seen her fly across the run from the coop. But perhaps to her flying a long distance is easier than flying up a short distance. I'll place a milk crate there to help her out and see if that works.
Thank you!

 

[SushiLove]

Quote:
Minor vision problems are a big yes and I'm sure it'll get worse as she grows older.
Despite being slow on the draw, she runs and jumps about with the others.
How would I check for leg concerns?

 

[classless chickens]

I had to teach mine to use the ladder to the perches. I just walked them up the ladder like 2 or 3 times. They caught on.
Didnt realize they couldnt get up there until I saw the few that slept on the floor pacing back and forth looking up at the perches. Felt like getting my kids to walk for the first time. Funny.

 

[gritsar]

I have a half blind hen that can't make it up on the roosts, especially if she waits until just before dark before going in the coop.
She solved the problem. She waits for me at the door to the coop and sometimes even runs out to meet me. I put her up on the roost and she's happy. Trained chicken or trained human, not sure which but it works for us.

 

[SushiLove]

Quote:
Well last night I got out there too late. They all went to bed at 8pm. A storm was rolling in anyway.
My Houdan was on the milk crate purring away.
Perhaps she feels secure sleeping on a more flat surface...
Even when she sits on my lap she eventually rolls on her side and kinda melts.

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Make her a small ladder or gang plank-type ramp to assist with getting up there. Once she gets it sorted out, you can probably remove the ladder.

I employ a ladder, regardless. It can't hurt and it prevents them from hurting themselves when jumping down from the roost.

 

[Anny]

Try checking her legs and feet for any sores of curled toes? Maybe it hurt her to roost or it's hard for her to?

I have one hen who have woobly legs. Always has since I rescued her (she was raised living on wire floors so I think that's what caused it) but she can't balance well enough to roost so she sleep on the floor. I had to teach her not to sleep directly under the roost though cus every morning she would have poop on her .