sleeping on the chicken coop roof?

[hallem]

Hi - this is my first question on the BYC Forum.

My bantam chickens that are nearly 4 months old have decided they won't sleep inside their coop as they would rather sleep ontop of the coop each night.

Every night when they come home to roost, they jump up onto the roof and go to sleep until l have to wake them up and put each one in their coop.

It doesn't seem to matter if l put them in early before they come in to roost as the next night they are back on top.

I love them so much but it's a little bit frustrating that every single night l have to put them to bed.

They have a great tree branch as their perch - so l'm not sure what the problem is.

Tomorrow l am adding a large Blue Orpington hen who is five months old to my other two bantams. I'm guessing this will be very confusing for the new Orpington too.

Does anyone have any suggestions - they've been doing this for over 2 month!!

Below is a photo of them on the roof!

 

[terrilhb]

I don't know the answer sorry. Hope it works out.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Hi hallem, first off,

Is your coop/run large enough to keep them locked inside for a few days or maybe even a week? Usually that is enough to get them to want to go inside at night. Have the new birds that you're adding been quarantined? Most folks here would recommend it. Good luck!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I agree.

I locked my pullets up for 3 weeks in their new coop. Now they don't want to come out.

I have to pick them up and bring them out of the coop. Go figure.

 

[hallem]

Thanks for your messages - The coop really isn't big enough for them to be kept in during the day - l only bought it for sleeping and laying eggs. I think unless i purchase a larger coop l will be doing this forever!!

Thanks for your help!

Regarding my new blue orpington that l collected today - the farmer said just to pop her in with my other two so l did. The others chooks don't like her at all and keep pecking her - it's really sad - it's my first time l have introduced a new chicken to the other girls. I hope they start liking each other soon.

Cheers

em

 

[kannna]

mine did the same thing. WE have a small house that is completely in the run. WE chickenwired off the roof area so they wouldn't go up there. I was concerned about the acidic properties of the poo on the roof. Once they didn't have that option they started going in the house again.