Roosting on top of coop

[suzychappstick]

I have two chicken coops inside a 10 by 10 dog kennel in which I keep our three roosters. I have an automatic door on the coop they sleep in so we don't hear them too early in the morning crowing. However they started roosting at night on top of the chicken coop. Does anyone have any ideas of what I could possibly put on top of the coop to deter them from roosting up there? We are going on vacation over Thanksgiving and I don't want them to annoy our neighbors. We also live in Minnesota and it is starting to get pretty cold at night. I put a bunch of chicken wire and bent it all up so won't be pleasant to sit on a but they just flattened it all out.

 

[swamphiker]

I was able to solve this issue using a coop light and welded wire, which the chickens didn't try to bend but YMMV

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Try some flexible wire fencing that won't give them solid footing at night.
Another thing to do is pluck them off the roof after dark and place them on a roost inside till they redevelop the habit of sleeping in there.
Make sure the coop you want them in has good natural light and huge ventilation. Chickens don't like sleeping in caves.

 

[aart]

Pics would help here.
How old are these birds, in weeks or months?
Is this a new habit or....?

Usually when birds roost on top of coop instead of inside it's because something is wrong inside....pests, bad ventilation, not enough space, etc.

 

[Kmaria187]

The reason for post today is my chickens will not go in the coop at night!!! I have to go out each night and put them in the coop. IS THIS NORMAL???? It used to be just 1 bird each night I would go out and she would be on the top of the coop, everyone else was in the coop getting ready to go to sleep for the night, Then it was 2 of them, then 3 and now all 4 of them are on top of the coop!!!! They are not afraid of the coop since they all go inside and lay their eggs each day. They have plenty of roosting space etc..
they are 7 months old

I tried to just wait and see if they would go in on their own. Each night I go out and see if they are on top and yep so I go back in the house for an hour or so and then go back out and yep they are still there. So I go back in the house wait another hour and they are still up there this goes on until about 10-11 pm until I give up and just put them in the coop!!!! so I can go to bed LOL. But the past few days its been getting near freezing at night and they are still on top of the coop!!!

The coop is free of pest we just built it in Sept and we clean it out every weekend. I also sealed up the corners of the coop with recycled bags the photo I added is so blue because of the rain we have a large tarp over our chicken run and the coop in in the chicken run.

Well any help to get my girls to go in the house at night would be much applicated.

 

[HumbleAmerican]

How's the ventilation?

If it's too dark for them to see into come roost time, they will find a safe spot they can roost. Try propping that door open before roost time to see if ventilation and light help you out. You may have to try several nights to get it to take.

 

[Kmaria187]

How's the ventilation?

If it's too dark for them to see into come roost time, they will find a safe spot they can roost. Try propping that door open before roost time to see if ventilation and light help you out. You may have to try several nights to get it to take.

wow thanks !!! I'll try it out tonight!!! and the ventilation is good only up top airways

 

[rosemarythyme]

How many sq ft of ventilation do you have inside the coop? I see a vent cover in the front, and hard to see what's on sides or back. You need 1 sq ft per bird in ventilation open 24/7.

The roost is the branch in the far back? How wide is that, and how close is it to the back wall? It looks narrow and too close to the wall though hard to tell from photos. Ideally you want at least 2" diameter or more for the bar, placed at least 12" from any wall.

No windows at all in the coop plus that blue tarp make it dark in there, and chickens cannot see well in the dark. If they can't see they can't navigate inside the coop.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The reason for post today is my chickens will not go in the coop at night!!! I have to go out each night and put them in the coop. IS THIS NORMAL???? It used to be just 1 bird each night I would go out and she would be on the top of the coop, everyone else was in the coop getting ready to go to sleep for the night, Then it was 2 of them, then 3 and now all 4 of them are on top of the coop!!!! They are not afraid of the coop since they all go inside and lay their eggs each day. They have plenty of roosting space etc..
they are 7 months old

I tried to just wait and see if they would go in on their own. Each night I go out and see if they are on top and yep so I go back in the house for an hour or so and then go back out and yep they are still there. So I go back in the house wait another hour and they are still up there this goes on until about 10-11 pm until I give up and just put them in the coop!!!! so I can go to bed LOL. But the past few days its been getting near freezing at night and they are still on top of the coop!!!

The coop is free of pest we just built it in Sept and we clean it out every weekend. I also sealed up the corners of the coop with recycled bags the photo I added is so blue because of the rain we have a large tarp over our chicken run and the coop in in the chicken run.

Well any help to get my girls to go in the house at night would be much applicated.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY NORMAL!!!! Your 'coop' needs more light and more ventilation.
In nature, chickens sleep in trees. They are not cave dwellers. In order to feel comfortable, they need to be able to see and to be able to sleep as high as possible. They are blind in the dark. I would first cut some windows into both sides of the coop and even another in your big front door. Cover all securely with hardware cloth. If they can't see, they can't find the roost to jump/fly to. Hence, they will sleep outside. Not to mention the unlimited fresh air available on top of the coop.

Another concern of mine is the security of the pen. You have only had the chickens in this space for two months. You are already fortunate that predators have not discovered it yet. As the saying goes, 'If you build it, they will come.' I see nothing that would keep a raccoon, mink, weasel, coyote, big dog, bear, cougar, et. al, out of there.
Chicken wire keeps chickens in but doesn't keep predators out.
Everything loves the taste of chicken and there is no experience more disheartening than coming out in the morning to gather your breakfast and only finding piles of feathers. Or in the case of bears, a completely destroyed 'coop'.

https://www.q13fox.com/news/these-a...ficials-warn-of-several-bear-cougar-sightings

https://seattle.curbed.com/2019/8/28/20837132/seattle-coyote-bear-cougar-sightings-map

 

[McChooky]

I agree.The coop is not off the ground and only has chicken wire for the run. The chickens will only go in a coop that's safe and well ventilated. Dark closed in places are traps that will cause them to be killed .Once you've upgrade your coop and made it safer you will have to train them to use the coop. If they roost outside put them inside and lock the door right after dark. Waiting until late to lock them up will result in them getting killed.