hemp in coop cleanout when hems won’t roost

[sweetpumpkinfarm]

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...

we have: silver laced wynadotte; french cuckoo maran; cinnamin queen & wheaten copper maran

 

[paintedChix]

Since it sounds like 2 are starting to roost, the others will start catching up.

 

[Catandherchicks]

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.

“cuddle puddle”