Not a good place to roost!

[tomato lady]

I have built my chicks two very nice roosts. They have been up about 3 weeks and still are unused and poop free. The chicks (9 weeks) roost on the brooder wall, on the feed bucket, on top of the shavings bail, or they just snuggle together on the floor.

Tonight my granddaughter and I were putting the chickens in for the night when I discovered their feed wasn't dropping down like it should. While I was bent over fixing the feeder, my black sex-link jumped onto my back. My granddaughter and I both laughed and I stood still thinking she would get down in a minute. Well, she snuggled down like she was settling in for the night. Eventually, my granddaughter had to lift her down. Silly chicken!

Why won't they use the roosts I made for them??

 

[FarmerDenise]

They are probably just not ready to get up there. When they are young they huddle together for warmth and I think comfort. As they get older they will explore more and want more space to themselves. Out of my 17 three month old chickens, only 3 go to the top roost, the rest are all crunched together on a shorter lower roost.
Give 'em some time.

 

[tomato lady]

When they huddle on the floor they make soft cooing noises. I guess they are happy. I like to hang out in the coop and listen to them.

 

[FlashPointFarm]

They'll get up there eventually. First the alpha chickens, then the others will follow. Your Black sexlink sounds very friendly. I wonder if she'd eat berries out of your hand?

 

[Uppity Peon]

I have 2 houses, one is a mirror of the other. The one they decided to learn to roost in has a 1x3 8' long, and somehow all 23 chickens were using it. Afraid it would break or fall down, I closed the door on that one and forced them to use the other house which has a 8' 2x4 and a 4' closet rod. Today I will open the first house again and I will be curious to see if they revert to the 1x3 board.

(I have a new 2x4 on the shopping list.)

 

[Theirishchickensoup]

mine would not use the roosts, so i then trained them to go up on them....

 

[thebroodybunch]

I have a white Leghorn that regularly roosts on my shoulder. I like to spend a few minutes with them every evening. I'm not in the coop long before she's on my shoulder. I've had up so three in my lap before. They really like to be patted and cuddled. I never expected chickens to be so friendly!