Do you want to stop your chickens from sleeping on trees?
Are your chickens sleeping on trees at night?
It’s a common problem for chicken raisers with lots of large trees in their garden and backyard.
I have been raising chickens for the last 20 years and have faced this type of problem multiple times.
In this guide, I have explained my experience of how I have stopped my chickens from sleeping on trees at night.
Introduction (My Experience)
Our backyard garden is about 7000 sq. yard and we have lots of mangoes, sandalwood, and teak trees.
These trees are very helpful in hot summers for my chicken during foraging. My chickens love to explore my garden in their shades.
Teak trees are very long and heightened. However, the mango and sandalwood trees are smaller.
Mango trees have long leaves and my chickens always rest on the tree branches during the daytime. I was happy about them.
But slowly it makes a bad habit for them. Once, I noticed several chickens weren’t returning the coop.
After analyzing, I saw my chickens started sleeping on mango trees during the night.
I started worrying about my chickens because the trees were not a safe place for my chickens at night.
My backyard is fully fenced and measures 7,000 square yards. I saw my pet dog kill one of my roosters one day because the dog found him resting on a small branch at night.
My dogs are trained, but they don’t like anyone bothering them at night, so they attacked the rooster at night.
Why Do Chickens Sleep on Trees?
Chickens feel safe in trees. High places are their favorite sleeping spots. Trees help them stay away from predators.
Different chickens in the coop have different perspectives. They may feel that the trees are safer than their coop.
Below are the explanations of a few main reasons chickens sleep on trees during the night.
1. It’s in their gene because of their wild ancestor
Chickens come from wild ancestors like Red Junglefowl, which makes them happy when they roost on trees.
Roosting high off the ground, whether it’s a tree or roosting bar, is a survival mechanism for them.
Still, after keeping chickens as a domestic bird, their instinctual nature never goes. Their instinctual nature is genetically coded in their blood.
2. Comfort and safety
Chickens feel safer on tree branches and shades of leaves when they are resting. It keeps them away from the eyes of flying and ground predators.
Chickens roosting high up are mostly safe from predators. That is why chickens feel comfortable perching on stable, elevated branches.
Also, tree branches are one of the best place for chickens to roost and because of the cool breeze during hot summers.
3. Other problems leading chickens to sleep on trees
There are few other problems which cause chickens to sleep on trees. The first problem may overcrowd in the chicken coop.
If chickens do not get their comfort zone inside a chicken coop, they may start avoiding getting inside their coop.
Some chickens love to roost, and they need a perch. If they don’t get perching space inside a chicken coop, they star finding a space outside the chicken coop.
Some time less space inside a chicken coop may cause fighting and stressful conditions inside a chicken coop.
So, stressed chickens start living alone or outside the coop during nights. And the tree branches are one of the best space to relax.
When a new chicken joins a flock, they usually need some time to adjust. Because of stress, the new chicken may keep himself alone or safe from a new flock and sleep on trees. But it is a temporary problem.
If your chickens are sleeping daily on trees during the night, it’s a thing to worry. You need to follow a few steps to show them the right sleeping area.
Building a Cozy and Effective Roosting and Sleeping Space Inside Coop
It is important to build a comfortable chicken coop so that chickens get a better roosting and sleeping space at night.
However, it is not a major cause for chickens sleeping on trees. Still, you need to set up a cozy chicken coop for chickens.
1. Building a right coop design
Space is the most important part of a chicken coop when you think about comfort. Every medium size chicken breeds need 2-3 sq. ft. space inside coop.
For large size chicken, you may need 3-5 sq. ft. space inside a coop. If the chickens are not free range, they may need more space in their run area.
Proper spacing in a chicken coop and run reduce stress, fighting and they love sleep inside coop, not on the trees.
Also, a well-organized coop has all facilities a chicken requires. It must include feeders, waterers, roosting perches, nesting boxes and suitable coop beddings.
2. Right design of perches
Chickens love to roost on heightened perches. The roosting bars must be at least 1.5 to 2 feet above the ground.
Also provide about 1 feet space for each bird horizontally so that they can rest comfortably.
It is better if you made the roosting bars in round shape and flattened as it feels like tree branches.
Avoid metal or plastic roosting bars because they are slippery, uncomfortable and not good for excessive cold and hot weather.
Fit the roosting bars properly to avoid wobbling. Unstable perches may cause injury and they don’t feel like trees.
3. Proper ventilation
Like human chickens also need proper ventilation inside their coop. To ensure good airflow and reduce humidity buildup, make vents in their chicken coop.
Excessive humidity may cause ammonia build up, bacterial growth and respiratory issues in chickens.
Chickens also need natural light so, if possible, allow them to forage outside in the daytime.
You can have a light inside chicken coop but it is not required for chickens which are free ranging in day time.
Temperature control and managing flocks during various weathers is most important. Below guide may help you manage your flocks during bad weathers.
How to keep chickens warm in winters?
How to keep chickens cool in summers?
How to manage chickens during the rainy season?
How I Trained My Chickens to Sleep in the Coop During Nights?
After I saw my chickens were sleeping on mango trees, I have gone through a few tricks and ideas to train my chickens to sleep inside coop at night.
Below are the few best ways to teach your chickens to sleep inside the coop during the night.
1. Routine building
If your chickens are sleeping on trees, then it’s sure that their routine is not right. Build a routine so that they find their coop safer than outside.
It is best to confine them at night for up to one week and give feed water inside the coop. Give them some time to explore their coop.
They will must find a cozy space inside their chicken coop. Chickens automatically adjust themselves inside a coop if they do not escape from it.
After one week, when they seem stress-free and find a suitable place to sleep at night. Allow them to roam outside for a short time.
Allow them only for a small time near the coop, not long yards. Then again, give some treat and force them to get inside the coop and lock them again.
After doing this in the second week, now it’s time to release them. They will must came back when it becomes dark outside in the evening.
2. Use treats and change their foraging area
Treats are the best thing to train chickens. If your chickens are sleeping on trees, then it is best to use some excited treats like mealworms and sunflower seeds.
Before 30 minutes of getting dark outside in the evening spread the treats near the chicken coop. Then make noise to invite your chickens for the treat.
Also, switch on the light inside the chicken coop so chickens can see only the coop when it’s dark outside.
They peck and enjoying the treats near a chicken coop. When they complete eating the treat, they can only see the coop near them and get inside it.
Doing this for 10-20 days makes them a good habit for them and they starting sleeping inside the chicken coop, not on the tree.
Also read: Here is the list of top 120+ chicken treats
3. Taking chickens near coop
If the trees where your chickens sleep are far from the coop, the treating system may not work. So, take the flock near coop before evening is the only way.
Just before sunset, it’s important to switch on the chicken coop light. Keep the coop light dim.
Take the chickens by making a little noise and gently herd them towards the coop. If some are sitting on tree branches, clap to distract them so that they came to the ground.
Then slowly take them near coop and allow them to get inside the coop one by one. When they get inside, close and lock the door.
You need to follow them this step for 10-15 days and you will see your chickens started coming back to coop everyday evening.
But if this method not works, you need to follow the first option by locking them for 7-10 days inside the coop.
These are my own ideas which I have followed to train my chickens, but the first method only worked for me.
Conclusion
Chickens should sleep in the coop, not trees. This ensures safety, comfort, and wellness.
Even though chickens like to perch high, it’s possible to train them to stay in the coop as their sleeping spot.
Start by making a good, airy coop with roosting bars that feel like branches. Lock your chickens in overnight so they can learn that the coop is their place to sleep.
Feed them treats and keep a similar routine each night. They will eventually prefer the coop over outside branches. This avoids predators, harsh weather, and accidents.
With time and repetition, the chickens will learn the coop is safe. You will have a flock that goes to the coop nightly, giving both of you peace at night.
