Nightime roosting behavior

[FarmsteadLady]

I am new to chickens and have had my girls for 2 days now. My 2 laying hens came from a home with about 20 chickens . They will go into the coop during the day but I am not sure how to handle nighttime behavior. Will they go in the coop by themselves at dusk? I have caught and placed them for the last 2 nights and was wondering if I should expect them to go in eventually on their own?

Also, the coop has roosts but they aren't using them and I don't believe that their previous home had them, will they eventually go up there because as of right now, they lay on the floor under the nesting boxes.

Thanks for any help and advice.

 

[LittleMamaBigPapa]

Were there any roosters in the other home? My guess as to why they are on the floor is that they didn't get the chance to roost before. It may just be that they are use to it. Give them time and they should get use to their new home and discover freedom they probably didn't have before.

As for going into the coop at dusk...again...what were they doing at their last home? Most of the time they will go inside on their own because chickens don't see well in the dark. I don't allow mine out after dusk or alone in the yard for very long at all. When I can't be outside with them and plan to be busy inside, I will gather them and put them in their run.

I would ask the prior keeper about their routine

 

[pulletkeeper]

Just from my brief experience I would try (if possible) to lower their roost to about a foot or two off the floor and see if you could get them interested and then slowly raise it. I have my coop set up so it is adjustable but don't know your situation. Also, I let my hens (acquired a week ago and they are over a year old) out to their outside run during the day and the first couple of days I drove them inside but found that they will go in on their own just before total darkeness then I can lock them in.

 

[FortWorthChicks]

some breeds don't like to roost so much... When I got my pullets I waited till they bedded down in the run for the night and put them each into the coop on the roost. Two days in a row was all it took and now they go in every night and roost.

 

[FarmsteadLady]

Thanks so much for the feedback. I have contacted the previous owner and will await word. I do know that there was a rooster at their previous home. They have 2 roosts, 1 is about 1 ft and then the other is higher. Tonight, I had to wait until 1 of them fell asleep in the run and then just moved her into the coop.

Thanks again, we will see how tomorrow goes.

 

[underground chickenman]

If the coop is big enough to house them for a few days or so, I would just lock them in so they get used to where home is. Then when you let them out, they will probably come back to it at dusk. You need to make sure your roost can be reached. I stagger roosts starting about 18 inches from the floor and about every 18 inches to the top one.

UGCM

 

[claud]

Usually you have to teach them to go into the coop and roost.

Some people lock them up in the coop for several days and then let them out - the idea is to get them to understand that the coop is home.

When I introduce new chickens into my flock I go out just after dark and physically put them IN the coop and ON the roost every night until they get the hang of it.
Most learn in a few days but I've had some stubborn ones that took almost 2 weeks. But they WILL learn if you are consistent.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I think the poster meant to ask if there were ROOSTS at their previous home, not roosters. A rooster wouldn't have anything to do with whether they roost at night or not. In fact, my rooster is always the last to go in the coop at night, after making sure that all the hens are in. Then the fight amongst the girls start. They all want to be the one that gets to sleep closest to him.

Best way to get them to go into the coop at night, IMO is to lock them in for a few days, maybe a week. That will give them the idea that the coop is home. As for roosting, they'll come to that on their own schedule, in their own sweet time.

 

[FarmsteadLady]

Thank you all for your comments. I wanted to provide an update.....I think I was trying to get them in too early because tonight I waited until later (after dark) and I went outside and they were all in the coop.

2 were on the roost so we are making progress.

You guys and gals are great!!

 

[rcentner]

When we got our 1st chickens we kept them in the coop for a week and then free range, they always went right back at night. When we have moved our flocks around to different coops, the same thing. Kept em in (I got down to 3 days inside) and they would always go where they belong. Seems cruel, but the coop should be big enough for them to stay inside for a few days anyway. You can occupy them by hanging apples or stale bread chunks that take a while to peck apart.