Where to sleep?

[CluckerFamily]

I bet the flock loves seeing that painting every day!

 

[Jenn1399]

I bet the flock loves seeing that painting every day!

I think they must!! used all scrap wood I had around, as you can tell!! Had to “sell it” Like that to the 6 year old - I had to cut the painting in half!!

 

[aart]

I’m hoping we don’t have to continue this process for too long before we get them all trained.

Guessing you may have to do it always, seeing as how the 'nest' is higher than the roosts.

 

[Jenn1399]

Guessing you may have to do it always, seeing as how the 'nest' is higher than the roosts.

Fingers crossed. They’re the same height, or higher than the nesting area.

 

[WindingRoad]

How do I teach my girls to NOT SLEEP in the nest box?
The same 4 sleep in there nightly. The other 3 are on the high perch.
there is a low, smaller perch that I installed when they were young. Some still hang out on it sometimes, so I’ve left it. I’ve never seen anyone sleep on the small one though.
you can see the higher perch & low one in the photos.
I’ve had chickens before, but I was able to close up the nest box area to block them/teach them. I’m not having the same luck this time. I do feel like the 1 higher perch is long enough for the 7 girls.
any insight?

This what I do. Go out before it's totally dark. Clean up the run, put birds on a roost. Take them out of the nest boxes. etc. Waste some time for it to get dark. Close up the coop. Now it's pretty dark in there. Chickens can't see in the dark so they most probably won't get off the roosts and probably won't be able to find the nest boxes. You might have to do this for several nights to a week or more. But they will get the hint. Chickens establish habits pretty quickly. Good luck.