Chooks76 Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 I've had my chickens for 11 days and I'm still having problems with them roosting - is this normal? Confined to the eglu run they roost without any problem. The problem comes when it starts to get late and they are roaming - the run area is only 21 square metres. My Speckledy is the main culprit. She will try and fly over the 4ft netting or jump onto the eglu roof and try to get onto my 6ft fence from there. She did go into the coop at 8:10 tonight but as the others had stayed out, she came back out. She eventually roosted at 8:30 but only after I got into the run area and repeatedly got her off the roof every time she jumped onto it. I then had the same problem with my Rhode Rock who would not roost...yet when I ushered her into the eglu run and shut the run door she went to roost within minutes. I don't understand why they can't work it out without my intervention? Any ideas gratefully received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 I would persevere for a while longer - they will probably get the hang of it eventually . If not, as long as your run is secure, it doesn't really matter where they sleep. My 5 all sleep out in the walk in run and only use the eglu to lay in . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 the earliest girls who go in the go in at 8:15, while my rhode rock goes in at 9:10! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Just prior to the "roosting hour" lure them into the Eglu by throwing a few dried meal worms into the run.Close the run door and they will soon get the idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Our girls are night owls, they don't go to bed until dusk, it was 9.30ish tonight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgieB Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 I was going to say the same as Tricky said. A few of mine went to sleep in all sorts of places in the garden, including one that tried to jump on the top of the cube (the top girl) the first 2 or 3 weeks. I just went round collecting any and putting them in the cube. They soon realised where they should go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Their instinct is to roost as high up as they can get. If your run is secure, it's not the end of the world if they roost outisde overnight. Otherwise, just keep putting them inside - they WILL get the hang of it eventually! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooks76 Posted May 24, 2011 Author Share Posted May 24, 2011 Sounds like I need to be more patient. I'm not convinced it helps to have the run near the foot of a giant oak tree! Unfortunately the run isn't secure. They've proved they can jump onto the fence I share with my neighbour and they've got over the chicken netting which is also a problem as my other neighbour and I don't currently have a fence. I'll go back to tossing the corn / mealworms into the Eglu run and then locking them up. Hopefully after a few more weeks of that things will improve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 With newish hens, I bribe them in with corn or mealworms - eventually as everyone's said above, they do get the message! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooks76 Posted May 26, 2011 Author Share Posted May 26, 2011 Lucky 13!! Finally my chickens have roosted of their own accord after 13 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Yippee! Clever girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
