I’ve Never Had A “Normal” Animal

[ChickenRush]

Hey everyone!
I have 9 chickens all between 10-16wks old. Only one (she’s a polish named Tina) is roosting. There is plenty of roost space and the roosting bars are above the nesting boxes. The coop is completely enclosed and secure. Even still eight of them still pile right in front of the door of the coop. Will they all eventually follow suit and take to the bars like Tina? Do I need to teach them to roost; and how?
And if you dare… how have I never ever had a “normal” animal?

 

[MROO]

Hey everyone!
I have 9 chickens all between 10-16wks old. Only one (she’s a polish named Tina) is roosting. There is plenty of roost space and the roosting bars are above the nesting boxes. The coop is completely enclosed and secure. Even still eight of them still pile right in front of the door of the coop. Will they all eventually follow suit and take to the bars like Tina? Do I need to teach them to roost; and how?
And if you dare… how have I never ever had a “normal” animal?

I get that! My kids swear that, around here, "normal" is just a setting on the dryer!
Try adding some lower roosts. They may need "stepping stones" to get to the higher one.

 

[thecatumbrella]

how have I never ever had a “normal” animal?

You're not alone friend. I've been saying this for almost 20 years. It doesn't matter if it's a dog, cat, or chicken. Every animal I get is a weirdo in some way.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

It's not the animals, it's YOU. The old expression, "right down the leash"

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

They will figure it out eventually. My pullets slept in the nesting boxes even with bigger hens showing them how to do it. I think they finally started roosting at around 12 weeks. You can try putting them on the roosts or putting something in the run they can roost on so they can get the hang of it during the day. I think yours are perfectly normal.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you want them to roost, manually put them up on the roosts until the habit sticks (this is assuming the rest aren't all Silkies or similar breeds which may not roost at all).

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Normal? HA! Welcome to the Funny Farm. How can we expect our animals to be normal when we're not? We've got: Bipolar, ADHD, mildly autistic (x2!), PTSD, umm... let me think, oh yes, Tourette's ... and as for the dogs, two were raised in kennels for over a year and one is ... an Aussie! I don't even know what's up with the cats except, they're more of the same and just fit right in!

 

[ChickenRush]

I get that! My kids swear that, around here, "normal" is just a setting on the dryer!
Try adding some lower roosts. They may need "stepping stones" to get to the higher one.

The roosting bars are the kind that are basically ladders. The first rung is only 6-8” off the ground and they just keep getting higher. I put them all on the bars last night, one at a time. Yuli and Sally understood the assignment and they slept there with Tina last night. The others are still just huddled up right in front of the darn door.

 

[ChickenRush]

You're not alone friend. I've been saying this for almost 20 years. It doesn't matter if it's a dog, cat, or chicken. Every animal I get is a weirdo in some way.

It's not the animals, it's YOU. The old expression, "right down the leash"

I’ve never heard that expression but I’m sure it’s true. Three people in one day text and asked if I was in Vegas. Eventually one of them informed me there were birds showing up with hats or helmets or something. The idea that people heard that and thought to check in on me pretty much sums it up.

 

[ChickenRush]

If you want them to roost, manually put them up on the roosts until the habit sticks (this is assuming the rest aren't all Silkies or similar breeds which may not roost at all).

The only ones roosting so far are my polish and silkie chickens.