Chicks aren't roosting

[kkapotsy]

Eight week old chicks got moved to the coop about three weeks ago. They haven't roosted for sleep. They sleep huddled on the floor of the coop. I tried placing them on their roost but they just jump off. Do I need to relax, will they find their way up there? Pic of interior of coop in case you guys think my set up might have something to do with it...

 

[kkapotsy]

 

[RodNTN]

My chicks started roosting in the coop after a day. They'll start roosting though. Its their natural instinct.

 

[junebuggena]

Relax. They are still babies, and they don't have any grown ups to show them. They will eventually use the roosts, when they are ready.

 

[kkapotsy]

Roost is about two feet off the floor, no more than that definitely. Made a poop board for them filled with pdz. Do I need to make them a ladder? Is the roost okay? Or do I just need to give them more time to figure it out.

 

[RodNTN]

Quote:

Relax. They are still babies, and they don't have any grown ups to show them. They will eventually use the roosts, when they are ready.

 

[Mosey2003]

Mine are steadfastly refusing to roost as well, and they're three months old :-/

 

[bobbi-j]

Relax - they'll figure it out. Even if they didn't, so what? It's not going to harm them if they sleep in a huddle.

 

[greenfeathers]

I've been having the same issue with mine. (14 weeks old 24 chicks) They are slowly learning. Seems each night an additional chicken is on the roost and the pile on the floor gets smaller. They have now brought themselves inside at night for 4 days straight which took about a week for them to learn to do. Fewer chickens in the run each night before that. So i believe they'll figure it out. A ramp probably isn't needed. I built one and no sooner did I finish but a bird flew right up to the middle roost to see what I was doing.

 

[Mosey2003]

Mine are really good at getting themselves inside before it's dark, but still just dogpile. I made a lower roost on cinderblocks in case my main one is too high and they're playing on it and chilling on the blocks (I can see footprints and poop) but just no deal on the roosting. I wouldn't mind as much, but I've got a girl with one wing and at least twice a week she's getting flipped onto her bad side and needing to be rescued. *sigh*