[Heidi]

My hens have taken to roosting on top of their hen house, so come our bedtime, we have to walk through the muddy run and lift them off one by one and put them away before shutting the door.

Anything I can do to stop them doing it as they are not that safe if they stay there.

Its more the inconvenience of putting them away 'manually', especially as our neighbours will be doign it next week whilst we're on hols.

Thanks.

[poultrygeist]

Hi Heidy.

Could you put some mesh up to make the roof out of bounds ?

Photo might help with suggestions. Are they light and flighty or can they jump up there ?

Just a thought that while ever they can, they will, but take away the choice and they'll have to consider going into the house instead.  

Rob

[Roughlee Handled]

Or you could clip the flight feathers.  That would stop em from a flying.

[Foxy]

Hello Heidi!
I was wondering if there coul be redmite in your coop -not easy to detect -tiny bloodsucking mites that come out at night to feast on your chooks. This would be a reason why they are reluctant to roost inside on their perches. Have a look with a torch and have a look by the perches -they look like minute small moving dots.  Other evidence of redmite is hens looking a bit pale and not laying.

[Roughlee Handled]

Good point foxy.

[Heidi]

When we cleaned them out at the weekend we noticed lots of mites of some sort - looked like white dust and they were living in the nooks and crannies (sp), so we disinfected really well and will be buying some mite powder ASAP, so this could be it.

Thanks for the advice gang, and clipping the wings might also be the way to go.  

[Porffor]

does sound likely. If you can't get redmite powder i've heard ant powder kills them.. just thats more accessible, but i wouldn't put this on the birds. I haven't heard if that's ok or not.

Hope you resolve the prob soon.

[Kym503]

On the odd occassion I need to encourage my girls into the hen house early (before they think it's their bedtime) I take a handful of treats or a few bits of lettuce and throw it into the house...  they soon go running in!

Might help your 'hen sitters' get them in quick!

Kym