Small new flock help

[Blam59]

We have a new flock of 5, 18 week old hens. The roosting box has never been used so there aren’t any droppings. Our issue is the birds will not go into the roosting box at night. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[SilverBirds]

You're saying box. Do you mean the coop? Are there roosts in the coop?

I'd manually put them to bed every night until the get the hang on it.

 

[Chickenmama2525]

make sure you have good height roosts for your chickens, entice them in there with treats at nightime, and manually put them in there at the right time as well

 

[Folly's place]

Your coop does look like a box; is there any ventilation or windows for light? Is there space for them to get up on a roost and get down?
And chicken wire will not protect them from predators!
Mary

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I always have to put the new kids to bed for about the first week. Unless they have an older hen to show them they don't usually get it by themselves. After a couple nights you can try putting one or two up and waiting to see if the rest follow but sometimes it takes longer. But once onenor two of them figure it out the others are close behind. My newest batch just figured it out after a week even though they have a mama hen.

 

[rosemarythyme]

As a general rule I'd suggest locking birds in the coop for a few days at least, to home them to it but that's only safe to do if temperatures are moderate and there's enough space, ventilation and light. I see no ventilation or windows in the coop. Is there any we're not seeing? Chickens will not want to use a coop that's dark, stuffy, or poorly ventilated.

Before you got them, were the chickens given access to a coop or roosting area to know how to use one? Depending on the source they may not have ever had the opportunity to learn to roost.

 

[Blam59]

You're saying box. Do you mean the coop? Are there roosts in the coop?

I'd manually put them to bed every night until the get the hang on it.

there are roosts on each side of the coop

 

[Blam59]

make sure you have good height roosts for your chickens, entice them in there with treats at nightime, and manually put them in there at the right time as well

what is the right time to put them in the coop?

 

[Blam59]

Your coop does look like a box; is there any ventilation or windows for light? Is there space for them to get up on a roost and get down?
And chicken wire will not protect them from predators!
Mary

the top is open and there is an opening in the front at the top of the coop

 

[SilverBirds]

what is the right time to put them in the coop?

Whenever it gets dark enough that they aren't going to get back up.