Chickens wont perch at night?

[sue_m]

Im new to keeping chickens so wondered if this was normal. I have 2 silkies, 2 pekings, a sussex and a ranger. They have a large coop with 2 laying boxes on the side. None of them will perch at night, all 6 squeeze into one of the laying boxes. Is this normal? should i intervene or leave them to it? Im worried the Bantams will get squashed.

 

[Opa]

Close off the nest boxes at night. Roosting in nest boxes is common and results in very messy nest boxes.

 

[RendonRoo]

You may have to place them on the roost at night for a couple of days. They will catch on.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I am dealing with the same thing with almost 16 week old bantam rocks. They have a clear pop door & in the beginning (4 weeks) always huddled there at the last light. Now they still huddle there & by their waterer on the other side of the front wall even though they have light at night & they use the roosts during the day & early evening. It is driving me nuts! I can't put them up there at night because it is still light in there & they just jump off. I may have to soon resort to turning off the light & putting them up there. They are really pecking each other & climbing each other's backs to stick their heads behind the stud etc. They are so far the weirdest chickens I have ever had.

 

[wxdude99]

How high are the roosts? I have an Austrolorp who has a hard time getting up to the roost, which is only about 2 1/2 feet off the floor. If I didn't put her up there myself she'd sleep on the floor, and she's a year old. At first

 

[THough1956]

Silkies don't usually roost. They like to huddle together in a corner on the floor. If they do roost, it is only about a foot off the floor.

That is about as high as they can fly or jump also.

 

[sue_m]

Thanks for the reply's.
I removed the layer box partition yesterday to make it look like part of the coop and raised the perch a bit. 1 silkie perched so hoping the others will get the right idea now.

Another question guys - so many questions but im learning

Do chickens get colds? i have 2 sneezing, they are ok apart from that.
Also i use wood shavings on the coop floor, if i use straw would it encourage mite and louse?

 

[will hunt for food]

First off- buy this book:

http://books.google.com/books?id=u6...=raising+chickens,+story#v=onepage&q=&f=false

I consider it a an absolute must for beginners, and a great guide for those with experience. Forums are great to get some first hand advice, but this book will separate fact from fiction. It covers everything from feeding to health to cooking eggs to housing to................

It is really hard to beat pine shavings for coop floor litter......that is in the book to.

Chickens are very susceptible to respiratory infections, and sneezing is a symptom- so you may have the beginning of a problem.......that is also in the book.

My library had a copy, but you will want to buy it to keep on your reference shelf at home.

Scroll through the preview link that I posted, and look at the table of contents and click on the chapter.

 

[Rodeoclown1189]

Quote:
this is what i did and all of my hens go up to roost at night no problem