Rooster won't stop roosting on my deck

[cldineley]

I have just recently acquired a BR rooster. One of my neighbors got a new roommate and brought it with her, and the rooster seems to like my deck better. She has since moved out and left him here, so now I have him. I just couldn't let him be and my 3 kids just love him. My husband has made him a temporary shelter with a roost but he will not go in it. We are planning on getting him a coop along with some hens in the spring, but right now this has to do until we get the money for it. I pick him up every night and place him in the shelter the past few nights. How long will this process take before he will associate that place to sleep instead of my deck? Any suggestions and advise will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Liamm_1]

Quote:
I have heard of some chickens roosting in trees at night, so it's not uncommon what your roo is doing. However, depending on what type of nocturnal predators you may have lurking about, it might not be wise to allow that, I don't. If you can, set up a light to go on just before sundown in his shelter, he might be drawn to that, as chickens are blind at night, which is why he just wants to stay in his familiar spot. I have chicks that just got put outside in my run and the first couple nights I had to pick them all up and put them inside the coop. I set a light with timer to go on at about 4:45, and when I get home at 6, they are now all inside the coop, since the light draws them in.

 

[Qi Chicken]

Make sure your shelter is as predator proof as you can make it. Maybe light and food in there. You are lucky to have him!


ooops!

 

[cldineley]

We have tried to make it as inviting as possible with what we have. We were not expecting to find a chicken on our deck not only keeping him, but my 3 kids and I are very fond of him. I'm going to try the light idea first. We did managed to put up a fenced off area for him and he really doesn't like that since he has been roaming free here for the past few months. Thanks

1 hubby 1 BR 3 kids 1 dog

 

[centrarchid]

Show a picture of where he is roosting now, preferably with him on roost.

 

[cldineley]

I have tried posting some pics, but it says I'm not allowed to until I am proven a good member of the community. So I will try again in a few days.