9 week olds not roosting at night, possible scald

[TheOddOneOut]

Mine at almost 16 weeks are not roosting automatically yet. Prior to last week, they huddled. Now, each night, I am going out after they go into the coop by themselves and putting them on the roost. The first couple of nights, it was a battle of the wills...I put them up, they hop right down. . After a few nights and me waiting till it was slightly darker, I'm winning. I put them on the roost and they are still there in the morning. Next accomplishment will be that they get up there by themselves.

Mine were 6 weeks and 8.5 weeks when I put them out...By day 10, they were on the bars. I had to put them on the first and second night, but they soon got the hang of it. Now they roost.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It looks like a nice coop. I think he did a good job.
There is just no way a ventilation window could be too cold for 9 week old chicks. I have 12 week old chicks that all sleep in a corner. They will roost when they are ready. Placing a couple on the roost after dusk may encourage the behavior.
I just add more shavings on top of their sleeping area when it gets nasty.

 

[Esshea]

Well I climbed inside the the coop last night and one bird instantly roosted. Another came in and sized the distance up trying to get the courage to fly up on her own and she did it! Most of them were on the roost at bedtime when a peeked in before locking the coop up.

 

[TwoJsRoost]

Glad somebody posted about this. I've never had problems in the past until this new flock. Looks like I'll be getting in with them at night and placing them on the roost. Fingers crossed it takes, and not become a battle .

Cluck in Y'all

 

[Esshea]

4 of the 10 are roosting. I guess that’s a start! My aloof, kind of jerky rooster is still a ground huddler.

 

[rosemarythyme]

4 of the 10 are roosting. I guess that’s a start! My aloof, kind of jerky rooster is still a ground huddler.

I see one possible issue - how close together are those roosts, and roost to wall? You want at least 12" from wall to roost and roost to roost. They look a little packed in there.

 

[Esshea]

I see one possible issue - how close together are those roosts, and roost to wall? You want at least 12" from wall to roost and roost to roost. They look a little packed in there.

I’m not sure how close they are. The roost closest to the wall was a temporary support piece my husband used while constructing the coop. He was going to remove it but then he decided to keep it as a second roost. It is very close to the wall. Sounds like it might be a good idea to remove it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I’m not sure how close they are. The roost closest to the wall was a temporary support piece my husband used while constructing the coop. He was going to remove it but then he decided to keep it as a second roost. It is very close to the wall. Sounds like it might be a good idea to remove it.

Ahh, ok. I'd probably take it out, that should open up enough space between roost and wall so they don't feel crowded in.

 

[aart]

I see one possible issue - how close together are those roosts, and roost to wall? You want at least 12" from wall to roost and roost to roost. They look a little packed in there.

Ditto Dat.
Head room is gonna get tight too, if it isn't already.

 

[TwoJsRoost]

Hey y'all. Update on the roosting problem at night. I blocked my nesting boxes off to keep them from sleeping in there, and then they started huddling up together. I just let it go and then one miraculous night, one of the girls roosted all night and now they all roost all night. Hope y'alls are doing well.

Cluck on y'all