7 weeks and 2 days... not roosting in coop

[Lumikko]

Show us your roost.
(if you had coop page, I'd just go look)
Do they get on the roosts during the day?
I put them up on roosts during the day multiple times,
Just to 'show' them they can navigate there.
Then might put them up there at night well after dark.
Or you can just let them figure it out.

How do you create a coop page?

 

[aart]

How do you create a coop page?

Go to the 'articles' page and create a member page.

 

[Panhandler80]

Well... I just checked and they all roosting right now. Probably another 35 or 40 minutes before the sun goes below the horizon.

As it gets dark I'm going to monitor to see if they leave chasing the sun. Of late they have not been doing that. They haven't however huddling in that corner.

the only variable is the fact that I have not checked this time of day to see what they're up to.

Fact they are roosting is probably a good thing..

 

[Panhandler80]

Went back out in pitch black with rheostat small headlamp. Delta up just enough to cook and they were all still roosted

 

[MochaChickMama]

You need to teach them. It isn’t something they automatically know to do.
U need to go out and pick them up and place them on the roost. They will begin to figure it out.

Sorry to jump in here but dealing with the same thing at 9 weeks. They are on this very roost bar all day long and will not sleep on it at night.

I’ve tried putting them on there. They of course jump off. It didn’t seem right to forcefully hold them down. Is this just a repetition thing or do I need to force it more physically making them stay?

 

[MochaChickMama]

You might want to be proactive and place them on the roosts after dark. My first batch of pullets couldn’t figure it out and squished someone to death in the pile one night.

That’s absolutely terrifying. I’m so sorry I had read so much that they would just figure it out and now I’m scared too. They are getting way to big for this corner pile business.

 

[aart]

Sorry to jump in here but dealing with the same thing at 9 weeks. They are on this very roost bar all day long and will not sleep on it at night.

I’ve tried putting them on there. They of course jump off. It didn’t seem right to forcefully hold them down. Is this just a repetition thing or do I need to force it more physically making them stay?

Move them to the roost well after dark.
I wear a dim headlight and point it upwards so I can see but not light a 'path of escape' for them.
Put them quickly on the roost, get their feet stable and quick little pat on the back, and leave the coop. Talking softly all the way telling them over and over "it's ok".
It may take several nights for them to 'get it'.

 

[MochaChickMama]

Move them to the roost well after dark.
I wear a dim headlight and point it upwards so I can see but not light a 'path of escape' for them.
Put them quickly on the roost, get their feet stable and quick little pat on the back, and leave the coop. Talking softly all the way telling them over and over "it's ok".
It may take several nights for them to 'get it'.

Ah, I understand now, thanks so much for the detailed explanation!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I’ve tried putting them on there. They of course jump off. It didn’t seem right to forcefully hold them down. Is this just a repetition thing or do I need to force it more physically making them stay?

Other than moving them once it's completely dark (so they don't want to jump off), you can put your hand on their backs and press down to encourage them to "stick". Not really forcing them but you want to get them to squat down and settled on the roost.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Well... I just checked and they all roosting right now. Probably another 35 or 40 minutes before the sun goes below the horizon.

As it gets dark I'm going to monitor to see if they leave chasing the sun. Of late they have not been doing that. They haven't however huddling in that corner.

the only variable is the fact that I have not checked this time of day to see what they're up to.

Fact they are roosting is probably a good thing..

View attachment 2152789View attachment 2152790

Once they're in there like that, just turn off the light and shut the door, they're down for the night. Once it's fairly dark like that, they'll stay put.