So how do you make them use the shed roosts?

[carolinagirl58]

My chickens are in a large 5' tall dog kennel. It's big...probably 50' x 100'. There is a stock panel fence down the middle for a couple of sheep and a nice covered but open shed with some roosts in it for the chickens. But they won't use the shed. They insist on sleeping on top of the sheep shed, on the fence, and on top of a cage that holds some smaller chickens. It's fine, except if it happens to rain one night, they will get soaked. I have put these silly chickens on the roosts after dark 3 nights in a row and yet they refuse to get on the roosts on their own....prefering to sleep out in the open. I can't lock them in the shed...there is no front on it. Any suggestions how I can make these birds use the nice shed I provided them with?

 

[Vora]

You can't.

Well, you can go out there every night right at dusk and manually put them in the shed and on the roosts. Eventually they may get the picture. Or, they might not, since they're not locked in. I don't know what sort of predator problems you have, but I would strongly recommend the ability to lock them in at night, because chickens are completely helpless in the dark.

 

[P-Funk]

Post a pic! Chickens will roost in a group to make themselves look bigger as a whole to any potential predators. In general, like most birds, they like to get up as high up as possible. As far as sleeping outside, I've seen alot of post lately about how incredibly hot it is most everywhere. Maybe the shed is too hot? If so, let them get soaked. It will cool them off IE: especially in the Carolina's.

 

[carolinagirl58]

Not too worried about predators now that they have some size on them. My pit bull patrols the area outside the kennel really well and won't stand for any predators to stay around long. The shed is in full shade and very comfortable. Most of their pen is shady. I was really hoping if they woke up on that roost a few times they would get the idea but I guess they are not all that bright. Oh well....I guess I won't worry about them. Maybe once we butcher the excess roos there will be enough floor space to lock them in the shed for a few days. I could always drag a stock panel in front of it but right now there are too many to occupy the space unless they are roosting.