Why will none of my pullets sleep in their coop?

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Here are some pictures of my setup:

The entrance to the coop:

The tree and windowsill that they keep sleeping on:

The roosts:

The rafters:

The roosts and rafters:

 

[casportpony]

Would I just see little bugs climbing around? If not, how to I check for them?

Check all of the surfaces and crevices.

And you go in at night and shine a flashlight on the birds. The red roost mite likes to crawl over them at night.

 

[thecatumbrella]

@casportpony 's mite check is definitely the first thing to do.

If that's clear, I have a couple thoughts.

The pullets might be getting defecated on by the birds in the rafters. Is there enough clearance between each ledge that they roost on? I think it needs to be 12-18", or something like that, to prevent the lower chickens from getting nailed.

Then, how are the drafts through those windows when closed? They're right at roost level, which is great in summer, but some chill might be getting in and hitting them. It's still pretty cold where I am.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

@casportpony 's mite check is definitely the first thing to do.

If that's clear, I have a couple thoughts.

The pullets might be getting defecated on by the birds in the rafters. Is there enough clearance between each ledge that they roost on? I think it needs to be 12-18", or something like that, to prevent the lower chickens from getting nailed.

Then, how are the drafts through those windows when closed? They're right at roost level, which is great in summer, but some chill might be getting in and hitting them. It's still pretty cold where I am.

I'm not sure if they are getting "defecated", but I have never found any poop on any of my pullets.
I usually keep the windows open during the summer and closed the rest of the year. Nighttime temps here has been low 40's.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I'm not sure if they are getting "defecated", but I have never found any poop on any of my pullets.
I usually keep the windows open during the summer and closed the rest of the year. Nighttime temps here has been low 40's.

Let us know if you get to the bottom of whatever's going on! Sounds very frustrating.

 

[InvertGang]

When I first put mine out, they slept outside on the ground. I physically picked them up and placed them into the coop, and shut the door. After a couple nights doing that they automatically go inside now.

They're so cute in a big cuddle puddle on the ground. We've been picking ours up from outside and putting them on the roosts for the last few days, and they're finally going in the coop and up on the roost themselves.