Roosting issues

[Spiva]

We have been raising chickens since 2012. We had 4 old hens and added 19 new chicks last year. They have a securely enclosed house and get out to fenced run each day. (gate from house area to run). They get along, but about 6-8 of them do not go inside to roost at night. They sleep on top and underneath the house. When we added the new hens we put new roosts in the house all at the same level. That was a mistake. We are cleaning the house out today and plan to put in new roosts at different levels (to accommodate the pecking order). How can we get all of them to go inside now? Our weather in Central Missouri is ok, but we did have some very cold nights this past winter.

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC. I have to put mine in, for a few nights, when they do things like that. It usually breaks the habit.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

Either they are being bullied or there isn't enough room to roost. You will have to physically place them every night until they are trained, each bird needs about 1 ft of roost space.

Best wishes with your flock!

 

[SilverBirds]

Welcome to BYC! Thanks for joining us.

 

[Spiva]

Welcome to BYC. I have to put mine in, for a few nights, when they do things like that. It usually breaks the habit.

Do you just herd them inside?

 

[Nomadicus]

Hello and Welcome to BYC. Glad to have you in this Poultry Loving Community. And for the sake of good fun, you must have some "Show Me" chickens.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!!

You could get them used to a bag or coffee can of treats in something that makes a little noise, so they'd come in the coop with you. Training them to come for treats just takes a few times. Then try one those two ideas my friends posted above...either lock them in there for a couple of days or just set them all on the perches and repeat that for a few nights.

 

[007Sean]

Howdy, and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!

Thanks for joining our community!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
How large is the coop in square feet?
How many linear feet of roost space do you have?
Can you show pictures of the interior?
More often than not, there just isn't enough space and the lowest ranking members of the flock do not feel secure going in with the rest of the birds.

 

[Spiva]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!!

You could get them used to a bag or coffee can of treats in something that makes a little noise, so they'd come in the coop with you. Training them to come for treats just takes a few times. Then try one those two ideas my friends posted above...either lock them in there for a couple of days or just set them all on the perches and repeat that for a few nights.

Great ideas.They already come for treats. Thanks for the ideas.