has anyones chickens not roosted until close to laying?

[junior67]

my chickens refuse to roost on the roosting bars. Instead they like to do a cuddle puddle in a corner of the coop. I tried before to put them on the roost at night and they just freaked. We have tried a couple times in the past couple weeks and they would stay if we put them there. But on Aug 17th my EE started to roost on her own (before we put them on it and they stayed) well on Aug 29th she laid her first egg. I knew she was getting close as her comb was red and bigger and she was submitting to my roo. Well about a week or so ago my Salmon Faverolle started to roost on her own as well. She also submits to my roo if he tries with her. So wondering if she will start laying soon too. Her comb is quite red as and big as well. then I have 1 cochin that a few days ago started roosting as well. I was questioning if she was getting close since her comb and wattles are really big and red (not as big as my roo but her sisters still have like nothing for a comb and no wattles). I was even starting to worry she was a roo they were so big even though she has no other roo traits but I saw they normally don't lay till 8-9 mo so didn't understand why hers were so big and red. Did ask and heard someone else that had one that laid really early too...... But now I am wondering if they are just going to wait and start to roost until they are close to laying. Will be interesting to see when the other 2 roosting start to lay and if it has anything to do with each other..........

Was just curious if anyone had odd chickens that didn't roost until they were near laying. LOL

 

[Silviaschicks]

The roosts might be too high for them to comfortably get on

 

[junior67]

The roosts might be too high for them to comfortably get on

they go up on them in the morning before their auto door opens so I know they can get up there no problem. I also made a smaller one and put it in the middle of their cuddle puddle spot hoping that they would use it if it was in that spot............ nope they just cuddle under and around it. Until these 3 started. By I have poop boards under my roosts and they are only about 18" off the floor I think it is since I have bigger breed chickens that I read lower roosts were better..

 

[Silviaschicks]

Hmm that is strange… @aart

 

[junior67]

Hmm that is strange… @aart

yes they are very strange. I could go out every night and put them on the roost and from what I have read they should start going on their own but can take a week or two. I figured they would roost when they were ready so unless I had to be out there after dusk I just let them be. Just found it odd that now that a few are close to laying they are starting to roost on their own but the ones not close still aren't.

 

[junior67]

Just want to keep this threat updated in case anyone else has weird chickens like me and are trying to search for it. hahaaa

My Salmon Faverolle started roosting right about 2 weeks ago and just laid her first egg today...

So my EE started roosting and 12 days later laid her first egg, Then my Salmon Faverolle started roosting and laid her first egg around 2 weeks later (not sure what day I first saw her roost I took a pic of the EE when she started since she was first so had that date)......... My buff cochin (that is just over 22 weeks so early for her but her comb and wattles are big and red) started roosting just about a week ago, think maybe 9 days ago?..... so now to see when she starts to lay

 

[Sally PB]

Following...

My pullets do a cuddle puddle in the corner of the coop. I closed off that corner, and they do it in another corner now. They're 14 weeks old, so not really close to laying yet. They still have pale, small combs and wattles.

I had put up a second roost, away from and lower than the hens' roost, but they weren't at all interested. I took that one out and put another one nearer where they huddle, but they don't use it.

I think it would freak them out for me to go in in the dark and put them on the roost, even if I wore my red head lamp and they couldn't see me very well.

@aart, will they roost when they start to lay? Maybe? Or should I put them on it now?

 

[junior67]

Following...

My pullets do a cuddle puddle in the corner of the coop. I closed off that corner, and they do it in another corner now. They're 14 weeks old, so not really close to laying yet. They still have pale, small combs and wattles.

I had put up a second roost, away from and lower than the hens' roost, but they weren't at all interested. I took that one out and put another one nearer where they huddle, but they don't use it.

I think it would freak them out for me to go in in the dark and put them on the roost, even if I wore my red head lamp and they couldn't see me very well.

@aart, will they roost when they start to lay? Maybe? Or should I put them on it now?

I am not an expert as these are my first girls (they turned 22 weeks on Thurs/Fri). I just left mine and figured they would figure it out when they were ready. I have gone out after dusk and put them on and they are "ok" with it but it does freak them a bit. The first couple times it REALLY freaked them out so I just let them be for a while then tried again, the last 2 times they did good but I figure I will see what happens as they each start to lay. If some still don't roost then I will have to go out nightly after dusk to put them on and hope they get it. Right now 3 out of my 8 (but 1 is a rooster) has started to roost each night. another 1 will here and there but not often. Good luck with yours!

 

[SilkySilkie]

Just want to keep this threat updated in case anyone else has weird chickens like me and are trying to search for it. hahaaa

My Salmon Faverolle started roosting right about 2 weeks ago and just laid her first egg today...

So my EE started roosting and 12 days later laid her first egg, Then my Salmon Faverolle started roosting and laid her first egg around 2 weeks later (not sure what day I first saw her roost I took a pic of the EE when she started since she was first so had that date)......... My buff cochin (that is just over 22 weeks so early for her but her comb and wattles are big and red) started roosting just about a week ago, think maybe 9 days ago?..... so now to see when she starts to lay

i mean at least you know when your pullets will lay

 

[kerbotx]

Did you give them roosts to practice on as chicks in the brooder?