Must chickens roost?

[nwmud]

Might be a silly question, but my girls like to cuddle on the floor of the coop. sometimes they roost in the run and even in the coop - but it seams like most nights they are on the floor in a group.
its not yet that cold here so i don't think it because they are cold.
so why must chickens roost?
I have had people tell me "its what they are suppose to do"
I don't know if i agree. My girls are happy and healthy. I figure if they needed to roost - they would.

what do you think?

 

[gkeesling]

i think it's a safety thing. Roosting gets them up off the ground, or floor, and away from predators. If they aren't roosting, and they aren't being eaten by predators, then I don't see the big reason for them to go up to roost They probably will when they are ready anyway.

 

[OpheliaChick]

I thought it was a safety thing as well. I also thought you wanted them to roost so that they don't poop on each other at night.

When I first put my chickies in the coop they all cuddled together on the floor like yours are doing. As they matured more they moved to the roosts one by one.

 

[Judy]

What breed are they? Silkies don't roost, some heavy breeds need wider roosts, etc.

 

[jjthink]

How high is the roost or roosts and how much room do they have in front of the roost(s) for jumping up or getting down? Are there any drafts up there?
JJ

 

[nwmud]

the roost is about 1.5 feet above the floor
they have room to jump and and down.
they have been up there just not often.


there should not be draft but the is ventilation above them
I probably should try some experiments to see it they are in the stream of air flow

as for the kinds......
2 SLW
1 GLW
1 Spotted Sussex

anyway - thanks for the coments.