15 week old chickens still not roosting at night

[karenviolin]

Well, you can keep doing it..... or not..... it's up to you.

It can take real persistence to 'change' a birds bad habits, 3 times isn't always enough.
I have been covering the nests in the early evenings to keep the pullets from roosting in them for a couple months.
They finally seemed to have stopped, fingers crossed, been 3 nights now.

I don't think you answered my previous questions:

I havent put them up on the roost during the day because of the way our coop is set up. They spend all day in the run, so i'd have to open the door to the coop, pick them up, and place them on the roost. It might be hard to see but we have a long branch on the right side of the run that they spend so much time on. Its much higher up than their roost. They have plenty of room to jump up and down in the coop. The board underneath the roost gives them a little step even. We've sectioned off the nesting boxes from the beginning because I didnt want them to sleep in there. In the next few weeks we'll need to take it down so they can start laying. The problem is that they are sleeping right by the entrance to one of the boxes. This is why we are trying to get them to sleep on the roost. I might have to do what you're doing if they start sleeping in the next boxes.

 

[WiddleChix]

I have six 14 week old pullets and one 14 week old cockerel and they still try to perch on top of their old outdoor brooder that I leave in the run next to the coop. Everyday for the past week and a half when the sun sets I pick each one up individually and place it on the roost in the coop. I leave the coop open during the day and they are in and out of it all day, they just refuse to sleep in their at night. Last night I put an electric lantern in there at the lowest setting just to light up the perch as I noticed the other night, when I set them on the ground to jump up on the perch, they couldn't see. As soon as the lantern was in they jumped right up and stayed as long as I turned the light off right away... Otherwise they got curious and tried to roost on the frame of the coop which was impossible

. I'm thinking if I can get them to do it for themselves they will learn more that that is their bed than if I was placing them up there, especially if they can see what's going on.

It can be frustrating but I figure it can only be so long before they figure it out for themselves.

 

[karenviolin]

I have six 14 week old pullets and one 14 week old cockerel and they still try to perch on top of their old outdoor brooder that I leave in the run next to the coop. Everyday for the past week and a half when the sun sets I pick each one up individually and place it on the roost in the coop. I leave the coop open during the day and they are in and out of it all day, they just refuse to sleep in their at night. Last night I put an electric lantern in there at the lowest setting just to light up the perch as I noticed the other night, when I set them on the ground to jump up on the perch, they couldn't see. As soon as the lantern was in they jumped right up and stayed as long as I turned the light off right away... Otherwise they got curious and tried to roost on the frame of the coop which was impossible

. I'm thinking if I can get them to do it for themselves they will learn more that that is their bed than if I was placing them up there, especially if they can see what's going on.

It can be frustrating but I figure it can only be so long before they figure it out for themselves.

My girls HATE being picked up, (even thought i've had them from 1 week old and picked them up every day...) The only way I can to it is if they are subdued at night. One of them still hates it and freaks out. My husband holds up a flashlight and I pick them up and put them up there. Then quickly turn off the light and shut the door. There's no way i'm going to be able to get them up there when its light outside. I tried going in there at sunset after they went inside, and as soon as I opened the door to the run they came right out! wanting treats probably Its great that yours already know to perch when they sleep. Maybe thats why they jump up so easily.

 

[aart]

Quote: Yes, I see......Hard to do much in a small coop, guess you'll have to wait.

 

[carlf]

Just leave them alone. unless they are in danger of predation, just let them figure it out.

My 14 week olds would not get up on the roost bar with their Mom until a week ago, now they are up there every night with her and the boss hen..
All 7 birds on a 4' roost bar, its quite a sight.
2 will get sent back to the guy who gave me the fertile eggs, so it will be less crowded after Wednesday.