Hens will not roost in the hen house at night!

[benevolent_leonela]

Hey folks,

I have some hens out of my flock that refuse to roost in the hen house at night. If I had to estimate how many I would say about half, I have 12 hens. It frustrates me cause my S/O and I spent so much time constructing their roosting area to be warm and comfortable

They instead prefer to sleep out in the covered run just on the ground or on the rim of the kiddie pool pooping in the dust bath of which then I need to scoop the poo out daily. I live in the northwest so it isn't terribly cold here compared to other regions of the US but it DOES get rather chilly at night. And this winter we have been having some bad, windy rainstorms that the hens are exposed to sleeping out in the run versus in the hen house/roosting area. so I get worried about having a sick hen. There are two 3-4ft roosts and since they were first released into their forever coop some have always slept on top of the nesting boxes, so there's that space too. I find there to be plenty of space for 12 hens to sleep in there at night. I have even gone in there after the light goes out to move them onto their roosts in hopes they would start getting in the habit of going to the roost when night falls but have been unsuccessful so far

Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I wouldn't worry if they are predator proof.
I have had plenty of hens and roosters sleep in trees over time in much harsher climates through rain, snow, wind and temps down to zero. They had the option of a dry well ventilated building and just suddenly opted for the better ventilated trees.
I know a lady in my region with a great coop and secure roofed run. Her birds have never been in their coop over the years except ot eat and lay eggs.

How well is your coop insulated in the 'warm' space. Comfort to a chicken doesn't always mean a warm dry space.

 

[592784]

Hey folks,

I have some hens out of my flock that refuse to roost in the hen house at night. If I had to estimate how many I would say about half, I have 12 hens. It frustrates me cause my S/O and I spent so much time constructing their roosting area to be warm and comfortable

They instead prefer to sleep out in the covered run just on the ground or on the rim of the kiddie pool pooping in the dust bath of which then I need to scoop the poo out daily. I live in the northwest so it isn't terribly cold here compared to other regions of the US but it DOES get rather chilly at night. And this winter we have been having some bad, windy rainstorms that the hens are exposed to sleeping out in the run versus in the hen house/roosting area. so I get worried about having a sick hen. There are two 3-4ft roosts and since they were first released into their forever coop some have always slept on top of the nesting boxes, so there's that space too. I find there to be plenty of space for 12 hens to sleep in there at night. I have even gone in there after the light goes out to move them onto their roosts in hopes they would start getting in the habit of going to the roost when night falls but have been unsuccessful so far

Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

I wish I could help , but just recently my girls have taken to roosting on top of their nesting box instead of where they are sleeping before. I have done the same thing as far as going out after dark and moving them back to their original sleeping spots. I live in west Texas where it’s desert, so it gets cold at night especially right now when it’s winter. We had 3 inches of ice and snow last night and they still slept outside of their normal sleeping spots. Huddle together. So maybe it’s something that changes in them as they get older. Mine are only 10 months old so maybe they feel more grown up. I don’t know but I understand your frustration.

 

[benevolent_leonela]

I wouldn't worry if they are predator proof.
I have had plenty of hens and roosters sleep in trees over time in much harsher climates through rain, snow, wind and temps down to zero. They had the option of a dry well ventilated building and just suddenly opted for the better ventilated trees.
I know a lady in my region with a great coop and secure roofed run. Her birds have never been in their coop over the years except ot eat and lay eggs.

How well is your coop insulated in the 'warm' space. Comfort to a chicken doesn't always mean a warm dry space.

Hi there thanks for your response!

The coop is insulated with 1/2 inch sheet foam insulation, it's a rigid sheet with thick black plastic sheeting over the sheet insulation so they would not peck at it. It was all built in mind to remove for the warm months during summer so the hens would have plenty of cool, fresh air. There are nice, big slots for ventilation up near the roof for exchange of air. During the day I run a brooder lamp that's on a timer due to it being winter, lack of light. When it switches off in the evening, a ceramic 100w heat bulb turns on just to make it comfortable in there during the night.

 

[benevolent_leonela]

I wish I could help , but just recently my girls have taken to roosting on top of their nesting box instead of where they are sleeping before. I have done the same thing as far as going out after dark and moving them back to their original sleeping spots. I live in west Texas where it’s desert, so it gets cold at night especially right now when it’s winter. We had 3 inches of ice and snow last night and they still slept outside of their normal sleeping spots. Huddle together. So maybe it’s something that changes in them as they get older. Mine are only 10 months old so maybe they feel more grown up. I don’t know but I understand your frustration.

I suppose my girls will sleep where they feel comfortable and they have an option to go somewhere that is warmer as they please! It is rather frustratingbut it allows me to learn as a new chicken owner that chickens will do what they feel is comfortable for them and I need not to worry so much and try so hard!

 

[NatalieP]

Two things come to mind. If the nest boxes are higher than the roost bars, they will try to roost there. It's just their natural instinct to go high. Not sure of your exact set up but I placed my nest box on the bottom of the (elevated) coop and made an angled roof on it so they wouldn't roost there. Additionally, when moving chicks from the home to their forever coop / run, its recommended to place them in the coop and close the opening to the run for a few days. This establishes the coop as home.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Hi there thanks for your response!

The coop is insulated with 1/2 inch sheet foam insulation, it's a rigid sheet with thick black plastic sheeting over the sheet insulation so they would not peck at it. It was all built in mind to remove for the warm months during summer so the hens would have plenty of cool, fresh air. There are nice, big slots for ventilation up near the roof for exchange of air. During the day I run a brooder lamp that's on a timer due to it being winter, lack of light. When it switches off in the evening, a ceramic 100w heat bulb turns on just to make it comfortable in there during the night.

I'm wondering what breeds of chickens you have that they would need heat lamps?
Perhaps they don't like the heat in there.
Also, I can't image enough ventilation coming from slots.
If the heat emitters are in there for heat/comfort, what happens if your power goes out. They need to become acclimated the their environmental conditions.
I

 

[Timmy59]

When our birds won't roost at night it's for this reason, I had to relocate 6 of them last year..

 

[benevolent_leonela]

I'm wondering what breeds of chickens you have that they would need heat lamps?
Perhaps they don't like the heat in there.
Also, I can't image enough ventilation coming from slots.
If the heat emitters are in there for heat/comfort, what happens if your power goes out. They need to become acclimated the their environmental conditions.
I

I have 4 Wyandottes, 1 Ostralorp, 3 RIR, 1 Buff Orpington & 3 Mottled Javas. The Wyandottes and my Ostralorp are the ones that really roost in there. The rest sleep out in the run.
And perhaps "slots" wasn't the right word. Attached is a photo to better explain/give perspective.

You have a good point on acclimation to their environment. Next winter I want to figure out a better plan for a warm space that excludes the need for a heat source. This one isnt quite it. Figuring it out as I go along.

I should mention that this behavior of the hens sleeping out in the run started recently. Before then they always went to the roosts in the hen house!

First photo is an outside view which leads to 2nd & 3rd photo being where ventilation spaces are. 4th pic is the roosts/hen house so you guys can see what I'm talking about

 

[benevolent_leonela]

When our birds won't roost at night it's for this reason, I had to relocate 6 of them last year..

That's awful!! Sorry to hear that ): what type of snake is that?