how do I get my chickens to sleep on the roost?

[clickncluck]

My speckled sussex hens are now 13 weeks old. They still sleep piled on top of each other. They have no problem being on the roost during the day. This week I put their nesting box in (with the opening unaccessible) just to take up space and force the issue. No go. I'm loosing hope that they are ever going to learn to roost. Any thoughts?

 

[gritsar]

They'll get to it when they are ready. It's not bad for them either way - roosting or on the floor.

Patience grasshopper.

 

[Country Heart]

Enjoy your pile of chicks while you can - they grow up so very fast.

 

[cmom]

I agree. I give my chicks a roost as soon as they hatch. Also since they are used to having a light I put a 7 watt night light in their coop. I don't know if it would work for you but know mine use the roost.

 

[off-grid hen]

Mine hang out on the roosts all day too. But when they call each other to bed, they go to the back corner. At first, just two were on the roost at night. Last night after the girls went to bed, I peeked in and 5 were on the roost.

I guess eventually they'll all do it. It doesn't really hurt anything (at least I don't *think* so?) , so I'm ok with them roosting at their own pace.

 

[Baymen Moe]

You can try physically placing them on the roost for a few evenings and they should get the hang of it. I did that one night and the next night all were on roost. Like yours, mine were all bunching up in a corner of the floor.

 

[Saltysteele]

provide a roost close to the ground outside, and they'll find it quickly. otherwise, they'll find your roost when they're ready

we never had roosts, until recently

 

[meowmmy65]

Glad to read this. My chickies are almost 6 weeks old, and have no interest in roosting. They do pile up to sleep, and it's very sweet. My only concern is that they seem to want to stay down in the covered run, and not go "upstairs" into the coop itself. I worry about safety, but so far so good.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My brooder raised chicks usually don't start roosting until they are around 10 to 12 weeks old. With some people, it is earlier and with some it is a lot later. I see no benefit to forcing the issue. They will roost when they are ready.

 

[meowmmy65]

I posted my comment, went out to check on the girlies, and found my Faverolle was making me a liar! There she was, perching on the roost like she owned it. Just like kids - they will do it in their own time, I suppose.