Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: janiejakemum on September 23, 2008, 13:08

Title: Wont sleep on perch
Post by: janiejakemum on September 23, 2008, 13:08

Hi

Posting on behalf on my dad again regarding his new hens.  He has 10 hens that he has had now for a month they are about 18weeks old.  We think there are 2 layers amoungst them.

The problem he is having is that the hens wont go onto the perch to roost, at bed time they all cram into the nest boxes, typically 4 in a box.  In the mornings they are all on the perch ready to be let out but they actually sleep in the boxes.  He has tried physically putting them onto the perch when they go in and he has tried going down once theyve settled and putting them onto the perch but they all go back into the nest boxes to sleep.  

Dad also tried putting an obstacle in the way of the boxes but the hens squeezed in anyway.

What can he try to encourage them to sleep on the perch??

Thanks for any help

Title: Wont sleep on perch
Post by: poultrygeist on September 23, 2008, 13:24

Hi jjm.

Can only think of fully blocking off the nest boxes. If he can make it so that the best place to be is on the perch, they might relent and play ball. :)

Good luck to your dad and his ladies.

Rob 8)

Title: Wont sleep on perch
Post by: Boxfanman on September 23, 2008, 22:30

I was never able to stop mine settling in nestboxes... I'd block it off for a few nights and then they would slowly get back into nest boxes over following nights.

I just pick poop out of boxes in morning so they are nice and clean for them.

Title: Wont sleep on perch
Post by: Knight Family on September 23, 2008, 22:59

mine just sleep on the hay on the floot. (even though 2 were on the roost this morning so they could see out of the window!)