Chicks not roosting

[Cookiebush98]

We got 5 chicks on March 1st and moved them to a coop inside a run on Sunday. We have been moving the chicks inside the coop at night and locking the door. If we do the they all huddle together on the ground in the run. It's been in the 70s here and 60s at night here in GA so it's fairly warm. Will they learn on their own or do we need to keep placing then I'm the coop ourselves at night

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They all eventually get up on the roosts. I never push the issue. They seem to enjoy the pile, and the sharing of warmth.

 

[Chickassan]

They'll eventually roost on their own, but if you want to speed up the process around roost time give them treats in the coop where you'd like them to roost.
The promise of treats will get them inside and the approaching darkness should make them roost.
You just have to make it something they want to do, treats will always win over sleeping in a pile outside.

 

[Cookiebush98]

Update. About 3 days after my post they have learned to go into the coop at night. I left some food in the coop and put a little on the ramp to go up. The weather coole dto the 40's at night which also probably encouraged them to sleep indoors. This week they have begun to roost on the bars outside the coop which is nice to see as well. Thanks again.

 

[Azmomm]

So mine have been out for weeks as well. 6 weeks old on easter. Its in the 70s now at night maybe as cold as 58 in morning. They go into the coop on their own but dont roost. They huddle and mob one another in the corner. How did you do it

 

[Cookiebush98]

That's good that they go into the roost on their own. My daughter would put them on the roosting poles occasionally during the day but I never put them on them when I would shut the coop in the evening. They mainly learned to roost on their own. It seems warm enough and if they have their feathers they wouldn't need to huddle up as much

 

[Ridgerunner]

Once they have feathered out, usually around 4 to 5 weeks of age, the huddling is not for warmth, they just like to sleep in a group. So yours are now about 8 weeks old. Yours are roosting earlier than mine typically do. I've had some broods start roosting on their own by 5-/2 weeks of age, I've had some go more than 4 months. Most of mine tend to start roosting around 10 to 12 weeks, but the coop set-up may have something to do with that.

This is only in my grow-out coop where there are no adults. In my main coop with adults the brooder-raised chicks tend to not roost with the adults until much later. Most of my broody hens take their chicks to the roosts around 4 to 5 weeks. Each brood, whether broody-raised or brooder-raised, is different. I let then decide when they are ready.

 

[HennyPenny2019]

They'll eventually roost on their own, but if you want to speed up the process around roost time give them treats in the coop where you'd like them to roost.
The promise of treats will get them inside and the approaching darkness should make them roost.
You just have to make it something they want to do, treats will always win over sleeping in a pile outside.

My girls are 13 weeks old and still have not started to roost . They sleep in the nest boxes generally all 4 in one or 2 boxes. I’m thinking this isn’t good for when they start laying but don’t know what to do.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My girls are 13 weeks old and still have not started to roost . They sleep in the nest boxes generally all 4 in one or 2 boxes. I’m thinking this isn’t good for when they start laying but don’t know what to do.

Are your roosts higher than the nests? Do you have any adults in the coop? A photo of the relationship of nests to roosts might be helpful. Them sleeping in the nests is not good but before I suggest a fix I'd like to know what you are working with.

 

[HennyPenny2019]

Are your roosts higher than the nests? Do you have any adults in the coop? A photo of the relationship of nests to roosts might be helpful. Them sleeping in the nests is not good but before I suggest a fix I'd like to know what yo are working with.