Why won't they roost?

[Mddutson]

My girls will not roost! They started roosting on the nesting box. I made it so they could do that anymore. Then they started sleeping IN the nesting box. So I took the box out last night. This morning they were on the floor. The roost bar is higher than the nesting box. Ever since they were attacked by the raccoon, they don't roost. If i place them on the roost bar, they tendto stay on it at night, but they won't do it themselves. Any ideas?

 

[Patinas]

First off, how old are they? Younger pullets can take some time to start roosting but eventually they almost always do. When I put my girls in the coop, they slept on the floor for about a month before they started climbing up to the roost.

 

[Patinas]

Sorry, missed the part about the raccoon scare...so they were roosting and now they won't. How long ago was the raccoon attack?

 

[aart]

If i place them on the roost bar, they tendto stay on it at night, but they won't do it themselves. Any ideas?

Do this for 3-4 nights and they should 'get it'.....or block the nests an hour before roost time and unblock after dark when you lock up.
I rigged a permanent hinged cover that's easy to use and it's always ready go.

 

[Mddutson]

They are about 3 months old

 

[Mddutson]

Sorry, missed the part about the raccoon scare...so they were roosting and now they won't. How long ago was the raccoon attack?

Yes, they were roosting and now they aren't. The attack was about 1 month ago.