How do I get them to Roost?

[StarLover21]

I recentally got some new chicks...they are now 6 wks and have moved into the coop, but they won't roost at night! Our white leghorn pullet loves to roost, but our Black Sex Link chicks and our Red Sex Link hens won't...is it a sex link thing?

 

[ChookCluck]

I don't know if it is a sex-link thing, although it could be due to some birds maturing later than others. You could always try putting them up to roost, and seeing if they stay up there. Do they have a ladder, or do they have to just have to fly up? If they don't have a ladder, you could always give them one.

And they are fairly young yet, give 'em a few weeks and I'm sure they'll be perching!

 

[jtbrown]

I also spent considerable amount of time festering over both of my flocks (got them within a month of each other, I never "underdo" anything

). They are 26 and 22 weeks old now, and they all roost with no help from me. Initially they piled on each other and hung out in one corner of the coop constantly even with perfectly nice low and high roosts available. I would say for the 22 week olds it was clear until they were well into their teen weeks, approaching 20 weeks before they all roosted (Easter Eggers).

I wouldn't spend much time worrying about it if I were you, if they are safe in their coop, it shouldn't matter where they are. I promise you they will get the hang of it. I didn't realize initially how much they are instinct driven and while needing some guidance at times, they usually manage to do what is instinctual without our help. Good luck!

 

[gritsar]

How do you get your chickens to roost? You provide them with appropriate roosts and then don't worry about it. They'll roost when they are ready.

Every single thing a chicken does it does by instinct. The age at which that instinct kicks in can vary from breed to breed and from individual to individual. Roosting is one of those instinctual things.

 

[jen85]

Only about a third of mine roost! The rest pile up in a corner.