roosting

[the gab]

I introduced my 7 chickens to their coop about 6 weeks ago. They seem really happy and well adjusted. Two weeks after I allowed them to "free range" within a larger enclosure that doesn't have a roof. At twilight when I go to put them back in their coop I find them in tree limbs that hang above the run. The last week I have cooped them up earlier, but when I come to let them out in the morning have discovered that they are all huddled together on the ground. They are not using the roosting dowels I have set up in the hen house. So my question is: Any good ideas on getting them to go back to the hen house when they are ready to roost for the night? My last groups of chickens all were fine with roosting the the coop.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You didn't say how old they are, younger birds are notorious for being trouble at roost time, and wanting to find their own spots. I find consistently putting them where you want them will eventually change their minds.

 

[the gab]

OK. I'll give that a try. They are about 14 weeks old. I'll go in after dark and see if I can get them on their perch.

 

[dadeo]

I'm actually impressed with how compliant the chickens are. They grew up from age 4-8 weeks in the coop, including being fed. They mostly ignored the roost until they were about 6 weeks, starting with the low rungs and working thier way up. The coop is surrounded by a fence designed to keep dogs and such out. At 10 weeks I started letting them out near dark, they'd wander around and eat the poison ivy and grass in the run and go back in at dark. At about 12 weeks the could fly out of the protective fence and now wander around the yard. I took some advice I got here and started to feed them where I wanted them to hang out and now they are digging through the yard and flower beds.

They wander a couple hundred feet from the coop but always go back at night and hang out on the roost. Good chickens!!

 

[aart]

I introduced my 7 chickens to their coop about 6 weeks ago. They seem really happy and well adjusted. Two weeks after I allowed them to "free range" within a larger enclosure that doesn't have a roof. At twilight when I go to put them back in their coop I find them in tree limbs that hang above the run. The last week I have cooped them up earlier, but when I come to let them out in the morning have discovered that they are all huddled together on the ground. They are not using the roosting dowels I have set up in the hen house. So my question is: Any good ideas on getting them to go back to the hen house when they are ready to roost for the night? My last groups of chickens all were fine with roosting the the coop.

Can you post a pic of your coop and roosts?
Might be some obvious clues that we vets can spot.