Is it normal for pullets to not roost?

VA Lady

Chirping
9 Years
May 26, 2010
119
0
99
Virginia
I have 4 pullets that I think are around 3 months old. Their coop has an "upstairs" with a roost and nest box but they don't seem to have an interest in sleeping there at night. Instead they pile on top of each other in the front-most corner of the coop. There was a raccoon attack at the nest box a couple weeks ago on a night they had decided to sleep in the roost area (but still just in a pile and not on the perches). Could this have put them off sleeping there or is it just that chickens don't really roost until they're grown? This is a pic of the coop to give you an idea of what I'm talking about:

 

LarryPQ

Easter Hatch!!
10 Years
Jul 17, 2009
10,878
60
291
They will roost when they feel like it. Mine like to snuggle dog-pile-style as long as possible.
 

gryeyes

Covered in Pet Hair & Feathers
10 Years
Sep 22, 2009
15,506
456
358
My slice of heaven in Somerset, CA
Yup, the youngsters prefer to pile together. They will get up ON roosts during the day to feel like Big Chickens, but they don't realize that's where they are supposed to sleep.

I didn't learn how to balance well enough to ride a bicycle until I was *mumble* years old, so maybe it's the same thing: you want us to BALANCE on that thing whilst we SLEEP????
 

floridamel

In the Brooder
9 Years
Feb 5, 2010
51
1
41
Tampa, FL
Mine are about 4.5 months old. The two of them sleep smushed up next to each other inside a tin planter turned on its side in their cage (we put it there when they were chicks to keep in heat from the heat lamp). Then in the daytime, they come out into the yard and roost on our outdoor chairs
smile.png
 

VA Lady

Chirping
9 Years
May 26, 2010
119
0
99
Virginia
It is funny but in the morning they will go up to the roost area and hang around awhile. I'm not sure why it's good for morning but not at night - guess only a chicken understands these things...
 

MrRushed

Songster
9 Years
Mar 6, 2010
111
0
101
Dudley
I noticed with my little ones when they did first start roosting they were getting beat up a little by the others.
Do you have older birds too? If so that might be what's happening. They'll get bigger and get up there.
 

felidaet

Songster
11 Years
Dec 10, 2008
987
19
141
Vancouver, Wa.
My young flock is 7 - 10 weeks old. Until a couple of days ago they would practice sitting on the roost occasionally but they would usually sleep piled up on the floor. A few nights ago I decided it was time to turn off the night time heat lamp (I was only using it at night). I checked on them a short time latter and found 20 of the 23 birds on the roost! They were still there in the morning. They have been sleeping on the roost since then. The same thing happened with my other flock last year. The night I turned off the heat lamp they started sleeping on the roost.
 

VA Lady

Chirping
9 Years
May 26, 2010
119
0
99
Virginia
Quote:
Nope, just the four young girls. Last night I had some sort of evil visitor (heard the panic on the monitor - hope he got a decent shock) and when I went out to check the girls had all retreated to the roost area. Maybe tonight they'll give it a try....
smile.png
 

myminicooper

In the Brooder
9 Years
Apr 25, 2010
41
0
22
San Fernando Valley
my 7 week old girls do the same thing so I'm glad I found your question. They play in the coop and on the roosts during the day, and when I let them out in the morning they are all up there, but they still sleep in a pile in the corner. I tried putting them up last night but that didn't work well, so I guess I'll just leave them well enough alone and hope they figure it out on their own.
 

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