Sleeping on ground.

[keds45]

Hi! I mulled it over and decided to post this here, not in the coop section--I hope thats ok!

I have 3 hens, all just over one year. My husband just built them a nice A frame tractor, so they could have more room when not out in the yard. Prior to this they lived in a eglu classic. I moved them into the a-frame 2 days ago. They quickly figured out the ladder and nest boxes, but for the last 2 nights they have slept on the ground in the run portion. How do I get them to move "upstairs"? I'm thinking that because the eglu was all on the ground, they aren't sure they are supposed to. Will they figure it out, or do I need to help them out? Any ideas are appreciated!

 

[Judy]

The usual approach is to put them on the roosts at dark for a few (or several) nights and hope they get the idea.

 

[keds45]

Ill give it a shot! Thanks.

 

[MareeZoCool]

I've had some hens that prefer to sleep on the ground, in the straw. While others can't seem to love the highest roost in the coop.

 

[keds45]

Well, I was pretty impressed that they found the nest boxes and laid eggs (right next to the golf balls we put there) within a couple of hours after moving them in. I'm reasonably sure that with a little nudging they figure out the roosts. If not I guess I'll buy them some straw!

 

[keds45]

Well, I put them in their roosting area one night, and the next night they went up on their own. Hopefully that'll do it. One girl is a bit "less bright" than the others, and the last 2 mornings she has and a little bit of a hard time finding her way down, but seems to have gotten the hang if it!