How do I get pullets to use their Sweeterheater???

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BluebirdHomestead

BluebirdHomestead

Crowing
Oct 13, 2019
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Longmont, CO
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I have 3 pullets that are 13 weeks and 3 that are 6.5 weeks. They all live together. I have been keeping them in my heated workshop since they were hatched and have been taking them out for day trips a lot. I finally installed a Sweeterheater in our coop and got up the courage to try to leave them out overnight. It’s a cold 21°F here tonight with high humidity so it definitely feels COLD to me. But they were happy out there and carrying all 6 of them back to the workshop at night is getting annoying as it’s not the shortest walk, so I decided to leave them out.
Well, I went out at about 7:30pm to check on them all and they were on the opposite side of the coop from the heater, freezing!!!! One of the 13 week olds and one of the 6.5 week olds were actually shivering. I don’t think they would have survived the night so I brought all of them in. Why did they not use the heater??? They don’t roost yet, so we’re huddled on the floor. I have the heater hanging about 18” off the ground. What can I do to help them realize that they will be warm if they sleep at the other end of the coop? Attached pic is of the coop before I fixed it up. The sweeter heater is hanging at the back where I’ve marked in red and I found them all huddled against the front door. Ideas?? Thanks!
 
Does the heater make a noise that might be frightening them? Chickens are wary of anything new, so that could be a factor. If you can confine them under it for a few days (nights) they may acclimate to it. Does it emit light? Maybe they prefer dark. If you confine them under it, be sure they can move away from its direct heat so they don't get too hot. How cold has it been getting? Is your coop ventilated?
 
BigBlueHen53 said:
Does the heater make a noise that might be frightening them? Chickens are wary of anything new, so that could be a factor. If you can confine them under it for a few days (nights) they may acclimate to it. Does it emit light? Maybe they prefer dark. If you confine them under it, be sure they can move away from its direct heat so they don't get too hot. How cold has it been getting? Is your coop ventilated?
Click to expand...

It is totally silent and emits radiant heat. It doesn’t emit light. Barricade is a good idea. I think I could figure something out to keep them under that area. The coop is well ventilated. That was one of the things I did to it when fixing it up. They probably are just wary of something new but since it’s their first night in there and it’s freezinf I figured they’d gravitate to the heat but they never cease to amaze me haha
 
aart said:
How about a current pic?
Chances are they are freaked by the new night time environment.....
.....put them on the roosts under the heater well after dark using a dim light so you can see.
Click to expand...

@aart, I notice the roost bars are round. Do you think they would be happier or more confident on flat roosts?
 
aart said:
How about a current pic?
Chances are they are freaked by the new night time environment.....
.....put them on the roosts under the heater well after dark using a dim light so you can see.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately it’s not a walk in coop, so getting to them and then crawling in to get them on a roost without letting all the others out would be interesting to say the least. I will take an updated pic in a bit.
 

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