15 week old chickens still not roosting at night

[centrarchid]

This is to everyone interested in getting older ground nesting juveniles to roost up. Go out after dark when birds are roosting on the ground, then disturb them spread them about, Even hold some upside down so they complain a bit. Do not put them back together in original spot or in location you want them to adopt as they may want avoid location they wake in the next day when going to roost. This simulate what a predator does that causes them to move roost location.

 

[karenviolin]

They are all good little chickies and go in their coop at dusk- I think I'm just going to wait and see. After 3 nights of putting them up on the roost they still aren't into going up there themselves. I'm hoping once they start laying that it'll be a different story. Or once the nights start getting cold the plan is to have their heat lamp up by the roost bar so that they want to be close to it

 

[centrarchid]

There are many advantages to having them roost up. First. it is safer in the event a predator does get into roosting area. Secondly, they will be able to roost free and clear of their feces which can be a real challenge with the longer nights in winter. Thirdly, birds roosting up are easier to assess / count and check for health issues while roosting. Fourthly, roosting up allows bird to concentrate feces produced at night so you can remove it with less labor.