Do you want to stop your chickens from sleeping in trees?
Are your chickens sleeping in 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 spans approximately 7,000 square yards, and we have a variety of trees, including mangoes, sandalwood, and teak.
These trees are very helpful for my chickens during foraging in hot summers. My chickens love to explore my garden in their shade.
Teak trees are very tall and long. 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 becomes a bad habit for them. Once, I noticed several chickens weren’t returning the coop.
After analyzing, I noticed that my chickens began sleeping on the mango trees at night.
I started worrying about my chickens because the trees were not a safe place for them 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 in Trees?
Chickens feel safe in trees. High places are their favorite spots for sleeping. 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 explanations of a few main reasons chickens sleep in trees at night.
1. It’s in their gene because of their wild ancestor
Chickens have wild ancestors, such as the Red Junglefowl, which makes them happy when they roost in trees.
Roosting high off the ground, whether it’s a tree or a roosting bar, is a survival mechanism for them.
Still, after keeping chickens as a domestic bird, their instinctual nature never goes away. Their instinctual nature is genetically coded in their blood.
2. Comfort and safety
Chickens feel safer on tree branches and the shade of leaves when they are resting. It keeps them out of the sight 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 places for chickens to roost, and because of the cool breeze during hot summers.
3. Other problems leading chickens to sleep in trees
There are a few other problems that cause chickens to sleep in trees. The first problem may be overcrowding 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 have perching space inside a chicken coop, they start looking for a space outside the coop.
Sometimes, having less space inside a chicken coop may cause fighting and stressful conditions.
So, stressed chickens start living alone or outside the coop at night. And the tree branches are one of the best places to relax.
When a new chicken joins a flock, they usually needs some time to adjust. Because of stress, the new chicken may keep itself alone or safe from a new flock and sleep in trees. But it is a temporary problem.
If your chickens sleep daily in trees during the night, it’s something to worry about. You need to follow a few steps to show them the right sleeping area.
Building a Cozy and Effective Roosting and Sleeping Space Inside the 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 in trees. Still, you need to set up a cozy chicken coop for chickens.
1. Building the right coop design
Space is the most important part of a chicken coop when you think about comfort. Every medium-sized chicken breed needs 2-3 sq. ft. of space inside the coop.
For a large-sized chicken, you may need 3-5 sq. ft. of space inside a coop. If the chickens are not free-range, they may require more space in their run area.
Proper spacing in a chicken coop and run reduces stress, fighting, and they love to sleep inside the coop, not on the trees.
Also, a well-organized coop has all the facilities a chicken requires. It must include feeders, waterers, roosting perches, nesting boxes, and suitable coop beddings.
2. The 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 approximately 1 foot of space horizontally for each bird so that they can rest comfortably.
It would be better if you made the roosting bars in a round shape and flattened them, as they resemble tree branches.
Avoid metal or plastic roosting bars because they can be slippery, uncomfortable, and unsuitable for extreme 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 can lead to ammonia buildup, 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 the chicken coop, but it is not required for chickens that are free-ranging during the day.
Temperature control and managing flocks during various weather conditions are most important. The guide below may help you manage your flock during adverse weather conditions.
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 at Night?
After I saw my chickens sleeping on the mango trees, I explored a few tricks and ideas to train them to sleep inside the coop at night.
Below are a few of the best ways to teach your chickens to sleep inside the coop during the night.
1. Routine building
If your chickens are sleeping in 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 and water inside the coop. Give them some time to explore their coop.
They must find a cozy space inside their chicken coop. Chickens automatically adjust to their surroundings inside a coop, provided 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 them a treat and force them to get inside the coop and lock them again.
After doing this in the second week, it’s time to release them. They must come 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 in trees, it is best to use some exciting treats, such as mealworms and sunflower seeds.
Before it gets 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 enjoy the treats near a chicken coop. When they have finished eating the treat, they can only see the coop near them and enter it.
Doing this for 10-20 days makes it a good habit for them, and they start sleeping inside the chicken coop, not in the tree.
Also read: Here is the list of top 120+ chicken treats
3. Taking chickens near the coop
If the trees where your chickens sleep are far from the coop, the treating system may not work. So, taking the flock near the 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 herding them towards the coop. If some are sitting on tree branches, clap to distract them so that they come to the ground.
Then, slowly lead them near the coop and allow them to enter the coop one by one. When they get inside, close and lock the door.
You need to follow this step for 10-15 days, and you will see your chickens returning to the coop every evening.
However, if this method is unsuccessful, you must follow the first option by locking them inside the coop for 7-10 days.
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 creating a well-ventilated coop with roosting bars that resemble natural branches. Lock your chickens in overnight so they can learn that the coop is their designated sleeping area.
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.
