please help me with my new chickens

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fifisparrow

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please help me with my new chickens
« on: November 02, 2006, 20:49 »
I have just become the very proud owner of three beautiful young ladies. They have a lovely coup and a nice garden to run around in once they have properly settled. The problem is they are not roosting but choosing to sleep in the nesting box of their coup. Is this normal? How and should I stop them from doing this? They are Rhode Island Red cross Sussexes. Nothing posh. I want them to be happy and if there's something I can doi to get them to roost on their perch I will. Please help.
Weed 'em and reap.

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Tensing

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please help me with my new chickens
« Reply #1 on: November 03, 2006, 07:56 »
Mine prefer to do this, the books suggest you should discourage it by shutting the boxes off and training them to perch.
Caroline

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olde9856

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please help me with my new chickens
« Reply #2 on: November 03, 2006, 08:11 »
Once its dark try lifting each bird onto the perches. They usually get the message fairly quickly.
They have probably not had perches in their runs from wherever you got them.
This is quite usual with young birds so dont worry even if they never use the perches.

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christianj04

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please help me with my new chickens
« Reply #3 on: November 03, 2006, 11:07 »
hi there,
i have two hens that have never gone up on there perch to sleep, they have always slept in there nest boxes which is a pain cause there droppings go in there and i have to remove it everyday. i think they prefere comfort lol. or they have a phobia of the perch lol.

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fifisparrow

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« Reply #4 on: November 03, 2006, 11:13 »
Thanks all of you for useful and speedy replies. I am going to try blocking off the nest box and encouraging them to roost by gently lifting them onto the perch but I won't worry now if they never roost.  :)

Thanks for the help. :D

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Aunt Sally

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« Reply #5 on: November 03, 2006, 12:14 »
My chooks prefer the nest box to sleep in.  I think I would too if I were given the choice:

comfy warm bed / sit on a stick  :lol:

Just have to make sure to clean to poo out of the nest regularly to keep the eggs clean  :D

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fifisparrow

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please help me with my new chickens
« Reply #6 on: November 03, 2006, 20:31 »
Cheers Aunt Sally
Love your humour and sound advice. Thanks. :wink:

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muntjac

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please help me with my new chickens
« Reply #7 on: November 03, 2006, 22:46 »
chooks will not roost on perches if the head hieght is to tight they like to be able to stretch thier necks up
still alive /............

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hermon

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please help me with my new chickens
« Reply #8 on: November 13, 2006, 09:37 »
mine go in the nest box...much more cosy!! if they are happy then i'm happy! does it matter where they sleep surely its up to them! :wink:

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muntjac

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« Reply #9 on: November 13, 2006, 11:48 »
its a case of hygiene methinks , so long as the birds are safe.  :D

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hermon

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« Reply #10 on: November 15, 2006, 13:39 »
hygien as in pooy eggs?

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muntjac

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« Reply #11 on: November 15, 2006, 14:26 »
yes and mites etc etc

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Foxy

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please help me with my new chickens
« Reply #12 on: November 15, 2006, 18:55 »
Agree re: red mite - they are minute red dots that feed on the chickens blood at night and are invisable during the day. They love dark crevasses and particulary perches -have a look with a torch when dark when you are more likely to see them - they can wreak havoc  with your chickens health and they may not roost  if the perch is infested.

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muntjac

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« Reply #13 on: November 15, 2006, 20:11 »
a smearing of vaseline under the perch will detect these and " they dont like it up em mr mannering sir "

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fifisparrow

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please help me with my new chickens
« Reply #14 on: November 16, 2006, 19:50 »
Thank you all for your comments. I will definitely keep an eye out for mites.



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