Who says Chickens are stupid... (further adventures of girls that won't perch)

... me that's who!
So they refuse to sit on their perches. (It's a http://www.chickencoopsdirect.com/devon-double-run.htm before people ask). So following advice every night I go out and pop them on them. Given this is the fourth night I've done this yesterday I modified the coop so that the roof hinged open so I could have better access.
Last night I went back out to check on them about an hour after I had done this and two of them were still standing up on the bar as opposed to actually perching. This obviously has me worried that they spend all night stood up rather than comfortably asleep. One night of worry but never mind I'm sure they'll adjust.
So again out I go tonight to put them on their perches and again one is on the floor and two are sat on each other in one of the nesting boxes. The first one I try and pick up and she keeps her legs tucked up so that I can't place her on her perch, while trying to convince her she sort of wiggles free of my grip and ends up flapping her wings wildly with her claws gripping my hand. This was my chance as I could put my hand next to the perch and was able to transfer her. The second one must have been watching this so when I went to get her she did her "I don't want to be picked up pose" where she spread her wings so that how I have been told you are supposed to pick up chickens doesn't work because her wings are in the way (I said they weren't stupid). Anyway I carefully pick her up encouraging her wings back gently and try and place her on the perch. She however has learned from her sibling and only extends one foot, she keeps the other tucked up against her body. As I try to let her go she gently topples over and then falls off the perch. I pick her up again and with careful use of my little finger on the second attempt persuade her to extend a foot and stand. Shut the roof and run away.
I don't know this is more stressful for. I can only imagine this whole thing is really distressing the birds but I don't know what else to do. I'm told you have to train them to perch properly but at the moment they're training me to have sleepless nights.
I've tried leaving them to sleep where they want to but they wake up sitting in their poo which I can't in all conscience allow.
Tomorrow's plan is to construct a blanking plate for the nesting boxes that I will fit before they go to bed and remove shortly after they are tucked up in bed so that they are free to nest first thing when they wake up.

Wish me luck! The girls need it.

How long have you had them and are they very young?

My first lot of chickens took about 5 weeks to stop sleeping in the nest box and use the perch.
I have some youngsters at the moment and they perch in the garden during the day but not yet in the coop.

Also, another thought. When i shut my older ones in at night, they are all squashed into the nest boxes but as soon as i lock the door, the climb down onto the perches. I can hear them doing it because they are so noisy. When I unlock in the morning they are on the perches (unless they hear me coming and they are chomping at the bit by the door to be let out).

You may have to keep doing what you are doing until they get the hang of it. They might still be settling in if you havent had them long. Of course some just never perch no matter how hard you try.  :blink:

"I put flower pots in my nest boxes as I don't like mucky eggs."
Genius!
I was going to use a bit of cardboard or plywood to block them but I like that a lot. That's saved me about half an hour in the morning...

I have 2 small flowerpots staked in the ground, one with grit other with oyster shell. Access to greens (lawn or brassicas) help them to absorb the calcium.
Perchwise though, though some have perched for weeks on end, they will sleep in odd places too.

All my young birds can't wait to perch but they have had a broody to show them the ropes.

It is my older birds that are constantly trying to sleep in the nest box since I got an eglu cube.  I do love the easy cleaning of the cube but having to block off the nest box on a night is a pain.  I use an empty seed tray against the round hole but more often than not they push past it.  They always perched in their wooden coop but the perches were higher than the nest box.  I will have to try the plant pot to see if that will work.

Mine refused to perch until two new girsl arrived (who perch) and taught mine how it's done.  Now they snuggle up on the top perch - the little darlings!

That is a good result rufty.  Is it your top hen that is the one that stands?  If so it is probably as you have said, she will hear you coming and be alert as it is her job to warn the flock of any danger.