Chickens & Heat Lamps

[EggSighted4Life]

@Ridgerunner It's true I also have a lower integration roost. And it's true they sleep in a group when young, I think partly because there is safety in numbers. But also, it's habit. Some of my chicks worked their way into the roost and higher pecking order at 8 weeks old within a couple days of integration. Others slept in the ground group for a few days before deciding to hit up the lower roost. All are definitely individuals. And with bigger groups there is often an adventurer that leads the way. With smaller groups I've noticed they usually develop a little slower and tend to be a tad more cautious.

And roost time antics can be unbelievably different than day time behavior for sure!

Who ever didn't believe you either has a very subdued (maybe small) flock or has never been in the coop at roost time. The magic numbers don't have much bearing in the bullies.

Patience is good, but consistency is key. As stated, they are forming new habits. My little guys do go to roost after the antics have died down. Certain girls or boys do the same thing. But a short time of training should be all it takes. And usually before full integration they get a chance to hang out in the coop during the day to familiarize with the space, just as yours have been doing.

I have never actually had to roost train, it just sets in with a certain amount of maturity which can be different for each bird.... but once the group starts, they will all join in rapidly assuming there is no cause for avoidance.

I do also have multiple feed and water stations. And also some visual barriers. Some which are only barriers to run around to get away, say like you were running around a table where you can still see the other player. It works fairly well. And plenty of escapes and hiding places. Usually takes a month or two before they start acting like one flock. Sometimes a little longer.

Chances are you kids are just moving closer to the light, not the heat. They haven't yet learned what sun down is. You could provide a small amount of light to lure them in then cut it. But I would just start a round up as sun down approaches, when the other birds start going in or shortly there after. And close the door behind them.

Some of my birds even do the opposite and head to roost early to avoid the beat down (as we call it).

 

[newhenintown]

Thank yall for so much useful information. It really is appreciated. The crazy thing is i have 2 little red EEs that are the only ones roosting right now. All the others huddle together on the floor of the coop, including the 4 new cochins. Those 4 are actually the biggest chickens I have even though they are the same age as my other 2 cochins. I had a few trying to roost on the nest boxes but I quickly shut that down. Maybe I will add another lower roost today and see how that works. I looked outside around 4 this morning and one of the "run sleepers" was actually roosting on the side of the dust bath box. I have locked them all in at night but the reason im not fond of it is because when I've been out there I've seen the 4 big cochins basically jump on the backs of my smaller chicks and start pulling the feathers on their heads. They haven't brought blood or really hurt them but the way the little ones scream when they do this really gets to me. Them behaving like this is also why I say they are up there on the pecking order.

 

[lazy gardener]

I did not read all of the previous posts, so, may be making a duplicate suggestion. Instead of a heat lamp, perhaps you could put a night light in the coop. Might even use one of the ones that turns on automatically at dusk. This should draw your youngsters into the safety of the coop, especially if you turn off that outside light until they've all bedded down for the night. I don't know if you've said that your run is predator proof. But if it is not, then you really should be shutting them in the coop at night, unless it heats up to the point that it's too warm for them to be shut in. Do you have LOTS of ventilation? That's important year round.

 

[newhenintown]

I did not read all of the previous posts, so, may be making a duplicate suggestion.  Instead of a heat lamp, perhaps you could put a night light in the coop.  Might even use one of the ones that turns on automatically at dusk.  This should draw your youngsters into the safety of the coop, especially if you turn off that outside light until they've all bedded down for the night.  I don't know if you've said that your run is predator proof.  But if it is not, then you really should be shutting them in the coop at night, unless it heats up to the point that it's too warm for them to be shut in.  Do you have LOTS of ventilation?  That's important year round.  

I have lots a ventilation without it being drafty and my run is completely predator proof. Top, bottom, sides, everything. I can't turn the outside light off because its one that I had the power company put up on top of my hill because we live far back from the road and I couldn't see anything but my porch. I can turn the lamp on until they all come in and then lock them up and turn it back off.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Thank yall for so much useful information. It really is appreciated. The crazy thing is i have 2 little red EEs that are the only ones roosting right now. All the others huddle together on the floor of the coop, including the 4 new cochins. Those 4 are actually the biggest chickens I have even though they are the same age as my other 2 cochins. I had a few trying to roost on the nest boxes but I quickly shut that down. Maybe I will add another lower roost today and see how that works. I looked outside around 4 this morning and one of the "run sleepers" was actually roosting on the side of the dust bath box. I have locked them all in at night but the reason im not fond of it is because when I've been out there I've seen the 4 big cochins basically jump on the backs of my smaller chicks and start pulling the feathers on their heads. They haven't brought blood or really hurt them but the way the little ones scream when they do this really gets to me. Them behaving like this is also why I say they are up there on the pecking order.

Did you get them as sexed chicks? That sounds like cockerel behavior even though they should still be a little young for that still. But coupled with the fact that you say they are bigger than the older of same breed makes me suspicious. Pullets always scream when cockerels grab them.

 

[newhenintown]

Did you get them as sexed chicks? That sounds like cockerel behavior even though they should still be a little young for that still. But coupled with the fact that you say they are bigger than the older of same breed makes me suspicious. Pullets always scream when cockerels grab them. 

No they were a straight run. I do believe the big 4 are roosters and im thinking about finding them new homes because I definitely don't need 4 roosters. I didn't want any roosters but maybe one just to protect any hens I might have out there.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

No they were a straight run. I do believe the big 4 are roosters and im thinking about finding them new homes because I definitely don't need 4 roosters. I didn't want any roosters but maybe one just to protect any hens I might have out there.

No need for one to protect your hens. And I don't recommend keeping one unless you have a specific breeding plan which does not include "oops it's a roo". I can promise your hens will likely happier without a cockerel. They become sex crazed teen boys that will pester every hen without cease at least until they grow out of it. But that screaming you are talking about will become a main sound of the day. And my top hen beets down several of my cockerels each day. I have even seen her knock a boy off of another pullet and then ask the other pullet if she was ok! Most hens don't have spurs but can just effectively call out predator warnings. If we didn't have plans for breeding our own dinner, I definitely would not keep any boys!

You can post pics if you need help deciding they are boys or not before you rehome them. And I suggest letting them go to someone's stew pot if it's difficult to home them. I would be honored that another family got to eat if I wasn't able to commit the act myself. We all have to eat and all of life is connected.

ETA: if you do keep a boy, you may have to figure out what to do with extra cockerels that hatch in the future. Because even if you don't plan it, you might get a broody hen. Ans broodies don't lay eggs so your production could be effected.

 

[newhenintown]

No need for one to protect your hens. And I don't recommend keeping one unless you have a specific breeding plan which does not include "oops it's a roo". I can promise your hens will likely happier without a cockerel. They become sex crazed teen boys that will pester every hen without cease at least until they grow out of it. But that screaming you are talking about will become a main sound of the day. And my top hen beets down several of my cockerels each day. I have even seen her knock a boy off of another pullet and then ask the other pullet if she was ok! Most hens don't have spurs but can just effectively call out predator warnings. If we didn't have plans for breeding our own dinner, I definitely would not keep any boys!

You can post pics if you need help deciding they are boys or not before you rehome them. And I suggest letting them go to someone's stew pot if it's difficult to home them. I would be honored that another family got to eat if I wasn't able to commit the act myself. We all have to eat and all of life is connected.   

ETA: if you do keep a boy, you may have to figure out what to do with extra cockerels that hatch in the future. Because even if you don't plan it, you might get a broody hen. Ans broodies don't lay eggs so your production could be effected.

I do believe all 4 are cockerels because there combs are getting pretty big but the 2 small ones im unsure because theyre so much smaller and theyre combs don't even look like theyre grown and they haven't turned red yet. There's a few local farmers around here that I might could find with some hens they wanna trade for my roos but then again everyone has too many roos it seems like.

 

[Ridgerunner]

At that age we should be able to make some pretty good guesses as to sex. Can you post some photos? We’d need one showing the head, especially comb and wattles. A shot showing posture, profile, and the legs can be really helpful too.

Since you said they are used to eating at night, it is to be expected that they are bigger than the others. Size can be a clue as to sex but since they were raised separately and fed differently maybe not so much.

I’m surprised it’s only a couple of your younger ones roosting, but that just goes to show no one can accurately predict anything with certainty when it comes to behaviors. We can usually tell what will “normally” or “usually” happen but someone always has an exception.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I do believe all 4 are cockerels because there combs are getting pretty big but the 2 small ones im unsure because theyre so much smaller and theyre combs don't even look like theyre grown and they haven't turned red yet. There's a few local farmers around here that I might could find with some hens they wanna trade for my roos but then again everyone has too many roos it seems like.

Sooner is better than later.

And the rest will work itself out with the suggestions you are already planning to implement.

If they are cockerels (and I think so), that could be one reason to be sleeping outside though I wouldn't expect that until they got roosting interested. But who knows, birds do all kinds of stuff we may not expect... Like my top girl showing empathy towards another who wasn't necessarily her friend.