Help teaching young chickens to climb up in the roost at night!

[mattfly77]

We have 5 new chickens that are about 10 weeks old. I built a nice coop and run for them. In the evenings they have finally figured out to go up the ramp but they all sleep on the floor of the coop right at the entrance at the top of the ramp. I have taken the light out since it's plenty warm outside. When I did have the light in, they would come all the way in and jump up on the roosting pole I have in there. Now, with no light, they don't.....they sleep at the entrance. It seems like they are afraid of how dark it is inside the coop.

Do I need to keep the light in there until they are a little older or just let them figure it out on their own?

Thanks!

 

[jalabtek]

Hi, we actually put them on the roost for two days when the sun was going down..Mine are 10 weeks also and after the two days, they got the idea.

 

[Duke6017]

I have 6 pullets between 7 and 10 weeks old. I have caught all of them on the roost during the day, but at night mine all sleep on the floor as well. The first few days they were all in the nest box until I blocked off the box at night (I have one hen laying, so I leave access to the box during the day). But in the evenings they all pile in the corner and sleep. The hen roosts, and there is plenty of room on her pole and a whole empty pole for them to use as well. I figure over time they will figure it out.

 

[azygous]

You already have your solution. Provide a night light. If they're not getting inside the coop until it's dark, then they really can't see well enough to hop up onto the roosting perch.

But do try placing them on the perch for a couple nights until they get the idea. It won't take them long at all to prefer the perch to sleep on.