Yes, they are in the coop with Branch, Chiquita and Corona. Branch and Chiquita manage to get themselves up onto the highest roost by themselves. I've tried blocking off their corners with the roost, they go to another corner or just the middle of the coop and pile on top of each other. I'm hoping one night it clicks, but they were almost 2 when I got them and I'm afraid this is just ingrained now in their behavior.
Ok, how about this if you’re really set on breaking the behaviour. Take an old brooder or some sort of fairly tight confinement and build a low roost inside it that doesn’t allow for any ground roosting at all in the space. Get them set up on that every night, then once they are accustomed to it take it out of the confinement and then try slowly moving it to the desired roosting spot. Because of the hardware cloth under roost design of my chicken tractors ground roosting is a big no-no. A raccoon or mink could easily grab from underneath…

Otherwise, if they have made it until 2 and are all okay, they are unlikely to suffocate each other or such in the ground roosting. You could just go with it. I have in the solid bottomed hospital tractor for some rescues that were too sick to roost on a perch at first.
 
Yes, they are in the coop with Branch, Chiquita and Corona. Branch and Chiquita manage to get themselves up onto the highest roost by themselves. I've tried blocking off their corners with the roost, they go to another corner or just the middle of the coop and pile on top of each other. I'm hoping one night it clicks, but they were almost 2 when I got them and I'm afraid this is just ingrained now in their behavior.
Can you run a "network" of roosts across the coop 2-4 inches above the floor? Maybe 2" high one way and 4" high the other so they have to go up and down just going across the coop?
 
Yes it is the best outcome. One day though these girls are going to cause harm to themselves. They were never taught or given the opportunity to roost before I got them. I try every night even with a roost I've placed about 2 inches off the ground and they will not use it. Instead they huddle together in one corner of the coop to sleep. The problem with this is they end up sleeping on top of each other. I cannot break this behavior and I really don't know what else to try to change it. I've even came out hours after they have went to bed and placed them on the roost and they jump right back off and huddle in the corner.
I have the opposite worry about my wee silkies falling from the roost and hurting themselves. They fly like crap 😲.

I have been making them roost in the nest box they have been broody in for the past month. It's also good to stay in there as it has been brutally cold, and they are lacking feathers....😊

Who knew chickens were as stressful to manage as horses! At least they can't kick you and break your arm... Oh sorry forgot about Pangoo Mango Rooster-brat attacking me last night and cracking into my right knee bruising it.... 😡We had words.
 
A Behavioral Experiment

I just did a behavioral experiment with Hattie. I have posted before about how when I spread snacks on the deck Hattie does not participate. Instead she moves to the end of the deck extension and stands sentinel. Like in this photo.

20220212_171719.jpg


She did the same thing today when I spread some meal worms around for everyone. I was sitting in my chair feeling sorry for her being all serious about protecting everyone else when I got an idea.

I stood up and walked over to her.

I looked down and said to her, "It is OK Hattie. I got this."

The end result was this.

20220301_171700.jpg

@Ribh @MaryJanet @LozzyR @Aussie-Chookmum @Marie2020 @Shadrach @micstrachan @ChicoryBlue
 
A Behavioral Experiment

I just did a behavioral experiment with Hattie. I have posted before about how when I spread snacks on the deck Hattie does not participate. Instead she moves to the end of the deck extension and stands sentinel. Like in this photo.

View attachment 3010287

She did the same thing today when I spread some meal worms around for everyone. I was sitting in my chair feeling sorry for her being all serious about protecting everyone else when I got an idea.

I stood up and walked over to her.

I looked down and said to her, "It is OK Hattie. I got this."

The end result was this.


@Ribh @MaryJanet @LozzyR @Aussie-Chookmum @Marie2020 @Shadrach @micstrachan @ChicoryBlue
Good move Bob.

What a moment of trust and solidarity.
 

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