They can't fly/get to the roost

[JLoner]

We got four 20 week layers on Tuesday. I'm not sure how they were raised, but all I can assume is they were kept in small cages or in a massive barn with 40,000 other hens. These girls can't get to their roost at night. I hear them flapping and trying to get up, but can't make it. They sleep on the ground.

We put a ladder to the nesting boxes, but the rungs seem too far apart. Hubby is going to make a ramp for them.

Any suggestions? We are inexperienced in this, we had a flock of 9 about 3 years ago, but they were free-range and got eaten by foxes. (Not doing that again!)

TIA

 

[wyoDreamer]

Can you put a lower roost in there for them to use? My chickens hop from the floor, to the 4" ledge outside teh nest boxes, to the support for the roost stand, and then up onto the roosts.

 

[JLoner]

Can you put a lower roost in there for them to use? My chickens hop from the floor, to the 4" ledge outside teh nest boxes, to the support for the roost stand, and then up onto the roosts.

I'll give it a shot! They don't seem to know they can hop or jump. I was thinking of like a floating ladder to the nesting boxes. If all else fails, they can roost on the floating ladder.

I just read a response to another thread where someone physically put their hens on the roost, then they figured it out. I just don't want them stuck up there! haha

 

[aart]

Any suggestions?

Please post pics of your coop, inside and out.

 

[JLoner]

Please post pics of your coop, inside and out.

Turns out then CAN get there. We found an egg on the "poop board" under the roost. Silly chickens

 

[Taj_MaChicken]

I'll give it a shot! They don't seem to know they can hop or jump. I was thinking of like a floating ladder to the nesting boxes. If all else fails, they can roost on the floating ladder.

I just read a response to another thread where someone physically put their hens on the roost, then they figured it out. I just don't want them stuck up there! haha

When we moved the girls to their coop, we put a couple up on the roost, and had a makeshift ramp. After a couple days, they were all flying up to the highest one, and now they all fight over the corner spot.

 

[killeengreen]

Sounds like you may have figured it out. We had the same issue, but we were told ahead of time that we would have to show our hens how to do certain things, like getting up to their roost. We physically placed them up there for a few nights until they figured it out. They came from a big farm, were raised on the floor, had never been outside, so they had no clue. They were starting to roost in their nesting box and we didn't want that so when we would lock them up at night and they were in the nest, we'd shoo them out and onto the roost. It took less than a week for them to learn.

 

[Sequel]

The chicken in my profile pic will sleep in the nest box every night if I don't pick her up and put her on the roost. (sigh) I do it most nights to keep the nest box as well as her feathers clean.