Sleeping in a tree

[Liz Streithorst]

All my adult Bielefelders roost in a holly tree right next to the coop except for the 2 that have decided to sleep in the house. But that's another story...

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I had a Wyandotte that would always bust out to sleep in a tree. She was being picked on. I agree with all the advice you've been given already. I have also had an entire flock sleep on top of the coop because it was too hot and crowded. I put them in a secure outdoor run in the summer to sleep

 

[TheFatBlueCat]

I've had many sleep in trees. One was a production red and she just liked that best. I tried for many nights to convince her otherwise but she slept up there till the day she died (of normal production red end of life causes). The biggest mistake I made was letting 5 of my young birds get into the habit of sleeping in the tree. 2 of them were leghorns and they roosted so high I couldn't get them out. There were no coop or bullying issues and initially I just left them to it, but eventually I had to cut the lower branches off and move the coop so they couldn't get up there anymore.

I have to say it was extremely amusing watching an orpington try to roost up there. Eventually she did just get too big and went to sleep in the coop.

 

[sillygrilla]

I had a buff Orpington hen who slept in a tree. Apparently she was a super hot chick and the boys were loving her nearly to death. She was exhausted and scared and her back feathers were all worn away from all the mating. She would fly down to the other side of the fence during the night so I had to go hunt around the neighbors’ houses and the farm fields for her every morning.

 

[Kriscam]

Mine have slept in their coop every night since they moved outside, until one little hen decided to sleep on the high perch in their run instead. Then her buddy started joining her, and now most nights all four sleep out there. I didn't ever find evidence of mites, but scrubbed and treated the coop with Elector ESP and DE. It's warmer in their coop, but they are very safe in their predator-proof run, so I've given up worrying about them. I decided they know where they are most comfortable.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I have a spitzhauben that a few times a year decides to just sleep on the branch in the run instead of the coop. No reason found yet, I wonder if she just hunks the breeze feels nice sometimes on her

 

[mopalia]

Summer before last was very hot, and the chickens all stopped sleeping in the coop - they roost on the ridge of the roof, which is disgusting because they poop all over the asphalt shingles, which are impossible to clean. It's a pretty mild climate here (no real freezes) and they stay there all winter. Unfortunately now something has invaded the coop - probably a rat - and I've tried to discourage it, but I'm not sure I've had any luck. All throughout the chicks laid in the coop in their nest boxes, but I'm afraid that after this molt they will think of someplace else. I"m pretty much at a loss with this.

 

[barchorses52]

Anyone else have a chicken that suddenly decided she didn't want to sleep in her coop she wants to sleep in a tree?

Yes I have 3 that perfer trees. I dont know why but they love the trees

 

[gtaus]

All my adult Bielefelders roost in a holly tree right next to the coop except for the 2 that have decided to sleep in the house. But that's another story...

Dear Wife is from the Philippines, and the family chickens would sleep in the trees. If they got into the neighbors yard, that was somebody else getting a free dinner.

I live on a lake and we have Bald Eagles and hawks overhead all the time. I have bird netting on top of my chicken run so none of my chickens can get out - but none of the eagles or hawks can get in. I don't think I would have chickens very long if I did not have bird netting on my run.

Do the birds that sleep in the trees come back to the coop to lay their eggs? I think that would be a concern.

 

[ElizaMay]

Summer before last was very hot, and the chickens all stopped sleeping in the coop - they roost on the ridge of the roof, which is disgusting because they poop all over the asphalt shingles, which are impossible to clean. It's a pretty mild climate here (no real freezes) and they stay there all winter. Unfortunately now something has invaded the coop - probably a rat - and I've tried to discourage it, but I'm not sure I've had any luck. All throughout the chicks laid in the coop in their nest boxes, but I'm afraid that after this molt they will think of someplace else. I"m pretty much at a loss with this.

As was mentioned by another, clip some of their primary flight feathers.
Leave enough that they can get up and down from perches in the coop safely and have some cushion, but not get the lift to get up on the roof.
You may need to add an extra lower perch in the coop if there isn't already one there, to help them jump up, like a climbing ladder