Still don't roost

[Studio2770]

I got three pullets that are over 3 months old and still go in the nesting boxes so I've had to move them on the roost for several weeks now. I don't think my older hens took as long. Do some just take long?

 

[trailrider330]

Would love to provide you with some ideas. Can you answer a few questions first:

What type of roost are you using?
How high are your roosts in comparison to your nesting boxes? (pics always help too)
How much roost space do you have available?
How many chickens are sharing that roost space?

 

[ryanhodapp]

I have a 3 year Faverelle who has never roosted. She will sleep on bale of hay but no roosts.

 

[Studio2770]

Would love to provide you with some ideas. Can you answer a few questions first:

What type of roost are you using?
How high are your roosts in comparison to your nesting boxes? (pics always help too)
How much roost space do you have available?
How many chickens are sharing that roost space?

It's about a foot from the floor. Only the young ones are on this roost. The roost is about 4 feet.

 

[trailrider330]

Chickens naturally seek the highest spot in the coop to roost. It looks like your nesting boxes are higher than your roosts, so naturally they are going to gravitate to the nesting boxes. Any chance you can install a roost slightly higher than the nesting boxes or put your nesting boxes below the roost? You could also block off the nesting boxes for now since they are too young to need them yet anyway.

 

[Studio2770]

Chickens naturally seek the highest spot in the coop to roost. It looks like your nesting boxes are higher than your roosts, so naturally they are going to gravitate to the nesting boxes. Any chance you can install a roost slightly higher than the nesting boxes or put your nesting boxes below the roost? You could also block off the nesting boxes for now since they are too young to need them yet anyway.

They've actually just started to venture onto the roosts. One of them has gone up on the highest roost twice. One night they were all roosting. We could raise the roost but I'm hoping they just learn since we never had the problem before. I guess we could block off the boxes. It'll be a matter of unblocking them early so the older hens can use them.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

Chickens naturally seek the highest spot in the coop to roost. It looks like your nesting boxes are higher than your roosts, so naturally they are going to gravitate to the nesting boxes. Any chance you can install a roost slightly higher than the nesting boxes or put your nesting boxes below the roost? You could also block off the nesting boxes for now since they are too young to need them yet anyway.

I agree, chickens like to roost at the highest spot available. Also, I noticed your roost is a 2 x 4 with the 2" up, mine like a wider roost. Maybe try turning the 4" side up. We had a 2" perch outside the nesting boxes and the hens wouldn't use them until we changed it to a 4" wide perch.

 

[Studio2770]

I agree, chickens like to roost at the highest spot available. Also, I noticed your roost is a 2 x 4 with the 2" up, mine like a wider roost. Maybe try turning the 4" side up. We had a 2" perch outside the nesting boxes and the hens wouldn't use them until we changed it to a 4" wide perch.

I think ours is 2x2. It's the angle. I'll check though.

 

[junebuggena]

The roost should be much higher, and wider.

 

[supchicks]

I'm having the same problem! My girls have been outside in their coop for two months now and for quite some time slept only in the nesting box (all four crammed on top of each other in a 1.5 x 1 ft space by choice), even though they had a higher up, wide 2x4 to roost on. I tried lifting them on to the roost at night and every time they'd just hop back down. I put a little ramp to the roost so they wouldn't have to hop up. No dice. I've had the nesting box blocked off for about two weeks now and the girls just huddle in front of the box and sleep on the floor. I've put stuff in the way of where they like to pile up, they just knock it out of the way. Every morning, they're outside, resting on a skinny-side-up 2x4 that's part of the run construction but they flat-out refuse to sleep on the roost in the coop.

I've put snacks up on the roosting bar, but they're still not interested. Not sure what else to try or what to do when they start laying!