Girls still not roosting, new coop!

[BanjosLaughter]

It has been a few weeks since my last update, and I am still struggling to get the girls to roost. I changed out the branches for much larger branches (about 2.75 in. diameter) if I place the girls on their roosts, they will stay there all night and not move, but if I just let them go into the coop they still huddle in a corner together on the floor. I have 4 windows that all batten down now and keep these closed at night. Is there any reason a chicken needs to roost? The floor is covered in thick pine shavings that I clean every day to every other day, they can still cover their feet with their bodies, and they don't seem to care at all (rather they seem to prefer) about being in a corner. Should I just give up trying to get them to roost if they don't seem keen on doing so? The Coop is raised 3 feet, and I have an automatic locking chicken door.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I think there are 2 main reasons people like their birds to roost.
First off they poop A LOT at night. Roosting keeps that from getting stuck in feathers.
Second would be pests/predators that may get in. Not a huge deal if your coop is secure.

I really wouldn't worry to much about it.
I have had some birds that did not roost until 6 months old.
Silkies tend not to roost too.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Is it possible that by closing all the windows there isn't enough ventilation so they are bedding down by the door because the air is fresher there?

 

[TheChiggens]

Yes, silly chickens indeed. That's happened to me before when chickens were younger. they would try to huddle together as if they were still chicks. Eventually, they grew out of it.

 

[Cryss]

Is it possible that by closing all the windows there isn't enough ventilation so they are bedding down by the door because the air is fresher there?

Yes, silly chickens indeed. That's happened to me before when chickens were younger. they would try to huddle together as if they were still chicks. Eventually, they grew out of it.

Yep, either of these.

 

[BanjosLaughter]

I dont imagine its a ventilation issue, there are vents running the top of the coop that are always open (think attic vents). I really do think they just prefer sitting on the ground over roosting, They were not able to roost as young chicks (they are now 7 months old) because their coop was too small to put roosts (thus the new coop).

 

[Cryss]

They'll surprise you and roost at some point.

 

[rosemarythyme]

No they don't NEED to roost but as others have noted, it's ideal to keep them from sitting in their own poop for the sake of cleanliness.

Since they're willing to stay on the bars if you place them on it I personally would continue to do so, but it's up to you.

 

[Hughes Wildlife Farm]

When you 1st put this post, I was having the same corner huddle on the floor issue. I used the suggestion of waiting til dark, than moving them to the roosts, its took me 4 consecutive nights, and many falling off after placing them, but now they do it all on there own (my 6-8mo old girls).
Now I am battling my 3-4mo olds in their coop with 3inch round roost poles... They were not taking to the idea, after a week of attempts to get them to roost... So yesterday I took out the posts and put in flat 4 inch boards (woke up this morning, and they were all still on the board, lined up, side by side, no one covered in poop from getting down and sleeping on the ground... I started simple, just 3 inches off the ground, so they are off the ground, but still feel close to it

 

[jthornton]

I started simple, just 3 inches off the ground

I was thinking the same thing, put the roost close to the floor so they can just hop up on it.

JT