hemp in coop cleanout when hems won’t roost

[sweetpumpkinfarm]

My 8 week old chicks (x4) took to their coop & run quickly & after a few days went right into coop each night on their own. Their run is 16x6 & their coop is 4x6. The run is sand (they dont free range in yard yet because we live i suburns & theyd fly over fence & have predator issues but ultimately will clip wings & secure yard ao they can. The coop is hemp bedding & nesting boxes blocked for another few weeks because they wanted to sleep in one. We have 2 roosts (2x4’s with 4” side up) but none of them roost overnight, they huddle puddle in a corner. I try clearing out the corner of hemp but they just make a bed and puddle there. I’m sifting the hemp and turning it almost daily but is it ok for them to keep sleeping in it in one spot? and how often do i have to replace the hemp…its a couple inches deep. I try sifting it like our sand but its harder to sift but also always super dry & seems clean/not smelly. I’ve tried placing my esp docile & easygoing lady on the lower roost & her and another will stay a minute but just go back to huddle puddle….?! Is it bad to sleep in the bedding?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Not unusual for chicks to want to huddle up instead of roosting. Generally shouldn't cause any issues but you don't want poop to build up since they'll be lying in it. Any photos of your roosts?

I sift my hemp so I only replace it once a year, but my birds all roost, so hard to say how frequently you'll need to clean out in comparison. If it's dry and odor free it's still good to use.

 

[sweetpumpkinfarm]

Not unusual for chicks to want to huddle up instead of roosting. Generally shouldn't cause any issues but you don't want poop to build up since they'll be lying in it. Any photos of your roosts?

I sift my hemp so I only replace it once a year, but my birds all roost, so hard to say how frequently you'll need to clean out in comparison. If it's dry and odor free it's still good to use.

thank you! I don’t have pics of roosts but can post them in am! the poop is just in that one corner & with only 4 chicks its not a ton so I’ve been spreading it out & sifting it nightly before they go to bed. I sift the sand run 2-3 times a day (basically whenever I’m in it). I was going to do a version of a poop board using those long rolls of brown paper so i can actually just pull out the sheets & compost them with the poop on them—so hoping they acclimate to roosts.

 

[Fallenone05]

I usually have to plop babies on the roost bars in the evenings so they get where they need to go. Some take right to the roost bars and others do the cuddle puddle in the corner. They might hop down still until they're a little older but it'll eventually click.

 

[sweetpumpkinfarm]

I usually have to plop babies on the roost bars in the evenings so they get where they need to go. Some take right to the roost bars and others do the cuddle puddle in the corner. They might hop down still until they're a little older but it'll eventually click.

thank you! I’m going to try putting all of them on it tomorrow night!

 

[AnnPann]

I have always had the same issue, and I just wait for them to get old enough to roost on their own. You could put a small box in the corner where they like to sleep, and fill it with something cheaper like pine flakes. Let them sleep there, but your box will be easy to just dump and refill. No sifting needed since its cheaper to just replace the flakes. Cat litter box style.

 

[sweetpumpkinfarm]

I have always had the same issue, and I just wait for them to get old enough to roost on their own. You could put a small box in the corner where they like to sleep, and fill it with something cheaper like pine flakes. Let them sleep there, but your box will be easy to just dump and refill. No sifting needed since its cheaper to just replace the flakes. Cat litter box style.

thats a great idea, thank you! in your experience what age range do they usually figure it out?

 

[AnnPann]

thats a great idea, thank you! in your experience what age range do they usually figure it out?

Honestly I can’t remember - I never pay too much attention, as they just figure it out in their own schedule, regardless how much I try to “help.”

 

[paintedChix]

I always had a few that went to 3 months (12 weeks) before staying on roost all night.

Also, breeds make a difference. Our silkies & some silkie/ameraucana crosses never did roost & the Brahma Xs didn't roost if taller than 3' - even w/ a ladder up to roost.

Then there were the purebred Ameraucana, Cream Legbars & Rhodebars. Once they figured out the trees, I couldn't reach them w/ a 16' heavy duty ladder. Eventually, I lost all of them to night time predators (fisher cat, owls)...

Editedvto add - I no longer free range birds here, even if 1 wing is trimmed. Makes me sad, but not as sad as losing birds...

 

[sweetpumpkinfarm]

Honestly I can’t remember - I never pay too much attention, as they just figure it out in their own schedule, regardless how much I try to “help.”

this makes sense! I actually found 2 on the roost this afternoon!