chickens roosting at night.

[BMRYANS]

How old are chickens before they start sitting on the roost bar in the coop at night? Ours are 8 weeks old and seem to prefer to sleep in the egg laying box instead of getting on the roost? Is this normal or should I block off the egg laying box until they are older? My husband and I are new to having chickens, we have 3 , thanks for your help!

 

[teach1rusl]

Part of it's probably their age. So yes, I would block off the nest boxes for now, with cardboard or chicken wire... Try going out after dark and placing them on the roost. Most likely, within a few days of doing so will have them hopping up there on their own...

 

[rungirl]

Block off the nest box. You don't want them sleeping in them and they don't need them at 8 weeks anyway. They may sleep on the floor in a pile when they are young, but eventually they'll want to roost.

 

[falinagirl]

Maybe it is the roost bar? I have 5 chicks that are 10 weeks old and they were laying in a pile on the floor until this last weekend. I originally put in a 2x2 roost and they would look out the window during the day but not get on it at night. I switched to a 2x4 flat side up on Saturday and that night 4 out of 5 put themselves to bed up there. The other one is a silkie and she is still staying on the floor of the coop. She is a whole different story

 

[TwoCrows]

Yes, definitely block off the nest boxes. But make sure the youngsters can get up on the roost. I used a small step up block for my young girls so they could easily hop up on to the roost bar. Once they sleep there a few times, they will stop sleeping on the floor.

 

[BMRYANS]

Thanks for tips, we did block the nest box last night, then my husband checked on them later using a flash light since it was dark out, he put a window in their chicken coop when he built it, they were laying on the floor in the pine shavings in front of the blocked off box, sigh, maybe soon they will roost. Bruce did say one of them sits on the roost off and on but not to sleep, so they can get up there. I guess time will tell. Thanks again.

 

[2DogsFarm]

Since they are still babies try putting a lower roost for them.

I used 2 tree branches - stripped of bark - about 3" in diameter and angled one from floor to the level of the 2nd roost (set straight across about kneehigh) so the babies could hop on near the floor and walk up to the higher roost.

Of course my hens prefer to roost on the extremely narrow - maybe 1/2"? - section of a partition in the coop

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