[carlgoss]

Hello everyone. I need some help! I have just finished a really nice new run and hen house. The three chickens I've moved from the old run will not go into the hen house to roost despite a lovely perch, nest boxes, warm straw. I've tried putting all the food and water in there but they will not use it prefering to roost in the freezing cold on the perch outside. In the old run they had been roosting inside since the weather started getting colder. Has anyone any ideas what I might have got wrong or any tips on getting the little devils to choose inside at night. Thanks!

[New shoot]

If you shut them inside for a few nights, they do get used to it.  You can also try having a torch or other light in there.  They usually gravitate towards it as darkness falls.

Chickens are not great with change.  New means scary and not to be trusted in their little brains, so what you are experiencing is quite normal. 

[Mr R Design]

Similar to New Shoot, they probably don't know it's their bedroom.

Torch with an old fashioned bulb not LED etc as it is going dusk will help or if you have power a very low watt incandescent bulb. (They can't see other types of light)

I had the same problem when I first had mine and the power/bulb worked first day. (I stuck mine on a timer). From memory I removed it after 3 days.

Once they are in turn it off it does not need to stay on.

[carlgoss]

New Shoot and Mr R Design... thanks so much I'll give the light a go. Last night was SO cold.