New pullets won't roost

[meanlibrarylady]

New chicken owner, I just got 2 dominiques and 2 speckled sussex pullets that are about 12 weeks old. My husband built a chicken tractor for them that has the coop raised on the back end of the run with a ramp to the coop. They have been in the coop but prefer to roost in the run. There really is not a good roosting place there so they all crowd onto a support piece on the corner. We have tried putting them in the coop after dark, they run back down the ramp, tried putting a roost across the middle of the run higher off the ground and putting them on that, they jumped down. The run is made of the 1/4 inch hardware cloth and is completely enclosed so I am not too worried about something getting them at night, but I am afraid that when they begin to lay, they will not use the nest boxes in the coop. What's up with these hens?

Thanks

 

[SIMZ]

I wouldn't worry too much about it, especially if you just got them. They'll figure it out and probably pick the best place to roost after a while. When they do start to lay I'm guessing they'll find those nest boxes as well.

 

[meanlibrarylady]

Thanks, my daughter is beginning to think I am nuts, sneaking out in the dark to see what the chickens are doing lol. I guess we will just wait and let them get the hang of it, I have only had them a week.

 

[SIMZ]

I've been there -and done that! LOL My 9 week old chicks are just finally starting to sleep on the roost at night. It was really starting to concern me that they kept piling up in a corner when it's 90 degrees outside! Soon you'll have something new to worry about with them!