How To Teach Chickens To Use Perches

Hi Everyone

I recently got asked a question on my facebook page which seems to be a common question i get asked so i thought i would share it with you today, it about how to teach your chickens to use perches in the coop.

This question comes from Lee Haunch from the UK who recently (June 2012) bought some 17 week old hens from us but found they were sleeping in the nest box instead of the perches. This is actually a very common question.

Thank you very much for yor help today. Maddie and Oscar are delighted with the new additions to our family. Mabel, Delilah and Camilla are cosy in their new home, just got to convince them to sleep on their perches and not in the nesting box.

Answer

Young hens sometimes need teaching to use the perches. You need to do this once it is dark by placing them on the perch one by one. Once it is dark they will not move. If you do this for a few nights they will eventually do it themselves.

It is never a good idea to let hens sleep in the nestbox as they still poo while they are asleep.

When they then start laying (especially if its early in the morning) they will lay the eggs into the poo which is not good as the egg shell is pourous and can absorb the bacteria.

t is never good to let birds sleep in the nest boxes as they still poo whilst asleep. When they start laying ( especially if it's very early in the morning) the eggs are then laid into the poo!!. Not good as egg shells are porous and will absorb the bacteria.