AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

Hi All
A few months ago, I bought some young Light Sussex Chooks (4 girls and 1 boy). I bought them from a breeder. The breeder had had the boy locked up for a year, and the girls, well, I guess they had been locked up in singular cages for a while too.

They have moved to a home where they have got a spacious chook house. The laying boxes were fine for my Isa's, but I think they might be a little small for the Sussex, so tomorrow they are getting their first renovations done. They love the free range life now and although my handsome rooster had a fairly rough start, he is building his confidence and starting to realise that he has 4 chooks hanging on every word he says.

I need some advice though - they don't seem to want to roost on perches at all - they much prefer to sit on their laying boxes at night, and I'm not sure, but the result seems to be that they are getting really dirty bums - not all of them mind you, just a couple. Is there something more going on than just sitting in their own poo do you think? I think only one of them is laying at the moment, but the combs on all of them look lovely and red and healthy. I thought they would have rewarded me sooner than this..?

Could it be a case of a good worming? Completely new laying boxes (any ideas for what makes a good laying box for a sussex?) and putting up some netting to prevent them from sitting on top of the boxes at all??

Looking forward to your replies.

Hello Neats,

I am no expert but I would be putting something up to stop them from "roosting" on the egg boxes. Are the egg boxes higher than the roosts, as chooks like to get to the highest place. If not I would be trying to put the roosts higher than the egg boxes.

Initially I had to train my girls to roost. I had to place them on the roost once they entered the chook house for bed time. So cute to have to pick each one up and gently place their feet on the roost.

Sorry no idea on egg box sizes, my girls just use a black plastic tub to lay their eggs in so nothing fancy at all. Maybe another member has more experience with sussex chookies too.

Just guessing. One of my four hens was sleeping on the ground while the others jumped 18" onto a perch to get inside the roosting box. I thought it was just her preference till I installed a ladder and she very very slowly walked up it and got in for the first time. She was too scared to jump onto the perch.

How high are your perches and do you think it's possible that yours either don't know how to get up there, or may need a ladder to the roost? Alternatively, you could try getting them used to perching by temporarily fixing a bit of 4 x 2 on its edge along the length of the nesting box top till they get the idea of perching on it. Then move the new perch somewhere else and close off the top of the boxes?

Gosh, I hadn't thought that maybe they didn't know how to climb up on to the perch! The perches are higher than the laying boxes - but they just seem to like the flat surface - which is getting pretty gross for them every day. I do have a ladder - but only up to the nesting boxes - I will definately try placing them on the perches, and also giving them a ladder... wow - I just assumed.... Poor things! I better teach them some chookie things then!! Thanks for that

I tried unsuccessfully for months to teach my two girls to perch rather than sleep in the nesting boxes. I put them gently onto the perch, then I would come back a while later to check on them and they would be back in the nesting boxes! I think the problem is the roof of their house is too low and when they perch they are right up almost against the roof. I eventually gave up and let them sleep in the nesting boxes. I just clean them out every morning when I let them out (they free range in our backyard all day). I remove the droppings and dirty straw and top up with clean straw if needed. That way the poo doesn't build up and they are not sitting in much. They don't have dirty bottoms and also they have clean nests to lay their eggs in.

I had the same problem, I just let the girls sleep in the nesting box which is an enclosed are area. They feel safer and warmer there. They are less exposed to the elements and predators at night. The poop gets mucked out each morning and fresh litter added so they are laying in a clean area.

My previous trio slept in the nesting box in the Aframe, the boys from The Lavender Gang were the only ones who would roost up in the mezzanine level.

Does your rooster like to roost on the perch or snuggle with his girls in the nesting box?

Can you close of the nesting boxes at night or take them out?

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=12703

When were they last wormed? It's a good time to worm them at the start of each season, this way you can easily remember.

I have 1 dott hen that is not allowed to join the others on the roost the bully hens kick her off but she still tries every night to join their clicky group

If you place the hens on the roost just at dark or at dark they will learn to go up on their own but it can take a few days of training

My first question and no doubt a silly one

Do chicken need to sleep on a perch off the ground for health reasons?

WESTFARMS, I don't know if it is for health reasons, but chooks always look for a perch to sleep on. If they don't have one I guess they would have to sleep on the ground. There are a few things mentioned here and other places that are common to what chooks need.

1. They need a roosting pole or board (I use a 3" x 1.5" board standing upright with corners sanded off smooth) that is slightly higher than the nesting box.
2. The wooden perch they sit on doesn't have to be much higher then their egg-laying nest. In my case, it's only a few inches higher.
3. It's best to have them on roosting poles rather than sleeping in the nest boxes, otherwise they poop in the nest and you have dirty eggs.