[nicky d]

My 3 new ladies are showing no signs at all of wanting to perch on the the roosting bar when they go to bed.    They are older birds and im sure that were they came from they werent provided with roosting bars.   Question,  is it law that chickens have to perch at night, if they choose to sleep on the floor can you just leave them to do that.         Nickyx

[joyfull]

Nicky it is best for them to perch but I do have some that absolutely refuse so I now leave them be   

[carolbriar]

Hi Nicky
None of mine perch.  I put the perch in position the other day and we had added an extra rung for them to climb up and I found it had pulled up so they couldn't perch - mine are very high perches.  One had obviously tried getting up.  I will have to put a piece of wood above the perches so that they slot in and that way it will stay put.  All of mine used to huddle up in one or two nest boxes and now with the warmer weather they sleep in the house and only one sleeps in the nest box. 

[themagicaltoad1]

I had a battle of wills with mine for a long time. It became a game to them, I would place them on the perch, they'd wait until I closed the door then go back in the nest boxes. We'd play game this several times each night for weeks until in the end I gave up. Now, a year on and they all perch at night. I think they just wanted to show who was boss, and it certainly wasn't me!

[Jeanette]

Mine never perch even after weeks of training as soon as i leave them they are back in the nesting box. Idealy they should be on a perch because if they are in the nesting box they get the eggs dirty but i am always up early before any eggs are layed

[nicky d]

mine dont lay till about 10ish anyway, think i will just leave them too it.    nickyx