10 week old chicks not roosting

[frackmomma]

Hi chicken family!

I moved our chicks out to their new coop this past weekend and they don't appear to be perching at night yet. They have been preferring to snuggle up on the floor in the corner of the coop.

Do I need to put them up on the perches to "train them" or are they still pretty young and need to snuggle for warmth? It got down to 38 degrees last night outside. I would like the poop to go on the poop boards like we wanted it to!

Picture of them playing on the roost during the day.

Thanks for your advice as always

 

[rosemarythyme]

Put them up at dusk when it's too dark for them to want to jump off. They should get the hang of it soon. Right now they probably just see it as a big toy.

 

[blackdog043]

Yep, put them up at dusk/dark, they should go up on their own after a bit. I would also turn the 2 x 2's on the right roost, so they are flat. It looks like the edge is pointing up.

 

[chickens really]

They will once ready to Roost. Possibly they don't like the Roosts your using. I use 2X4s flat side up.

 

[frackmomma]

Thanks for the advice on the roost bars! I'll take a look at them this weekend.

I tried to put them up on the roost last night and it was a big fat disaster. They kept falling off and then piling on top of each other to cuddle. Sigh

 

[rosemarythyme]

First few nights they might not "get it" and will try to jump off or climb under each other. Just keep at it and they'll learn.

And yes I'd check all the rungs to make sure they're actually chicken friendly, so they're able to sit on the flattest part and that the bars aren't sitting at an angle.