Trouble with Chooks roosting

[Mikey]

Can anyone offer some advise, last week my chooks wouldn't go into their omlet coop to roost, which made me concerned as to why that was. I cleaned the coop out and found a couple of wee beasties under the roosting bars, so scrubbed it out and steam cleaned the coop throughout.

Since then every night I have the same ritual as dusk falls they jump up onto the high level bar in their run to roost as opposed to going into the coop, if I shoo them off they go into the coop but won't do it of their own accord initially.

My problem is that last night I was later home than anticipated and it was already dark, they were perched up on the bar and it was quite a fiddle getting them in (my chooks run away from me!!). I know some foxes have taken some chooks recently in the village, and while they are unlikely to be able to get into my run it still leaves me a bit concerned for their safety.

Here's a picture of where they are now perching.

[chris]

Could it be because that roosting bar is higher than the coop? They naturally will go for the highest perch. Have you tried taking it out for a bit to see?

[Scarlet]

Hmm, I think this is a difficult one. Chickens will always prefer to roost up high. I had a similar problem when I came home late several times last year - a few decided that they would roost in a tree! I didn't spot them and they didn't last long.
That said your enclosure looks pretty robust - can you take the bar a way for a while or put some mesh on the bar upto the roof to stop them getting a perch. If there is nowhere else for them to go they should return back to their usual habit and use the coop.

[Mikey]

mmm....The bar is integral to the structure as it stops the panels twisting, I'm going to have to find a way of keeping them off it for a couple of weeks I think.

[SMS6]

can you perhaps wrap some chicken wire around the bar so it's less perch like?

[Mikey]

I've screwed some screws in it at regular intervals, it seems to put them off. They can still get up there and stand, but its not comfy enough to roost on.