Not roosting?

[Trixe123]

I have 3 RIR and 3 barred rocks that are 8 weeks old. They will be going to their permanent outside coop this weekend, when the weather hopefully breaks for good here in Illinois! This is our first time having chickens and everything has been going very well until recently. Each night when the chickens go to sleep there is 1-2 that sleep under the roost where all the other chickens are. There is space on that roost for them to be and a whole other roost that is empty. Is this normal or should I be concerned?

 

[Spartan22]

I would leave them alone unless they’re getting poop from the perching chickens. If you decide to intervene pick them up and hand carry them to the roosting bars when it gets pitch dark.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I have 3 RIR and 3 barred rocks that are 8 weeks old. They will be going to their permanent outside coop this weekend, when the weather hopefully breaks for good here in Illinois! This is our first time having chickens and everything has been going very well until recently. Each night when the chickens go to sleep there is 1-2 that sleep under the roost where all the other chickens are. There is space on that roost for them to be and a whole other roost that is empty. Is this normal or should I be concerned?

If I was you, I would put them on the roost when it gets dark because I would not want them to get pooped on. You don’t want them to get in the habit of sleeping under the other chickens, otherwise you will be giving baths every day.

 

[TheRusticRebel]

I was just about to post about this. I have 8, 9 week old EE that have been in the coop a few weeks. I left the kennel (large wire) in there that they were introduced in. They slept in there with the door shut for a few days. Now...they either all huddle up in the kennel or in a huddle on top of the kennel ( i have a board on top of it. )

Same as OP there is plenty of room on the roost the other chickens (5 rir) and a whole 6 ft of roost that doesn't get used.

Whats even more wracking...when I let them out in the AM the l little ones will run back in and all get up on the roost together.

I tried putting a couple on the roost the other night. But one jumped right down and ran back to the huddle and the other looked really scared so I picked her up and put her back with the others.

They have about a 3k sqft area of the yard together all day and the 2 groups almost never mingle.

 

[aart]

Is this normal or should I be concerned?

Normal. Either be patient to or put them up on the roost after dark.

and the 2 groups almost never mingle.

The younger birds will remain a 'sub-flock' until they start to lay, the older birds ar probably not letting them on the main roost at dusk. If you can sit out there and watch, you may find it interesting to observe the 'RoostTimeRumble'....happens even with well established all adult flocks.
The kennel is their 'home' so that's where they go to roost. I put up a separate roost, a bit lower than the main roost, for the youngsters.

 

[bterrelonge]

I was just about to post about this. I have 8, 9 week old EE that have been in the coop a few weeks. I left the kennel (large wire) in there that they were introduced in. They slept in there with the door shut for a few days. Now...they either all huddle up in the kennel or in a huddle on top of the kennel ( i have a board on top of it. )

Same as OP there is plenty of room on the roost the other chickens (5 rir) and a whole 6 ft of roost that doesn't get used.

Whats even more wracking...when I let them out in the AM the l little ones will run back in and all get up on the roost together.

I tried putting a couple on the roost the other night. But one jumped right down and ran back to the huddle and the other looked really scared so I picked her up and put her back with the others.

They have about a 3k sqft area of the yard together all day and the 2 groups almost never mingle.

 

[Spartan22]

I was just about to post about this. I have 8, 9 week old EE that have been in the coop a few weeks. I left the kennel (large wire) in there that they were introduced in. They slept in there with the door shut for a few days. Now...they either all huddle up in the kennel or in a huddle on top of the kennel ( i have a board on top of it. )

Same as OP there is plenty of room on the roost the other chickens (5 rir) and a whole 6 ft of roost that doesn't get used.

Whats even more wracking...when I let them out in the AM the l little ones will run back in and all get up on the roost together.

I tried putting a couple on the roost the other night. But one jumped right down and ran back to the huddle and the other looked really scared so I picked her up and put her back with the others.

They have about a 3k sqft area of the yard together all day and the 2 groups almost never mingle.

They’re all learning their ranks and pecking order, in chicken world unless young ones are raised by the broody with the flock, they group together according to their age and familiarity. They have silent codes they respect or be pecked. I was amazed last year when I had 5 broody moms that hatched/raised chicks and integrate them from the start, how easy it was. Everyone roost together as early as 2 wks old like they always knew each other, and they help raised them together. Whereas integration after brooding bought chicks separate in my garage takes few weeks to blend together.

 

[bterrelonge]

I lock my chickens away at night in the coop above the run. When it gets dark, they start making a fuss and flapping and looking up so I know they want to go to bed. There is a ladder for them to go up to the coop or come down to the run in the mornings. All their food and water is down in the run but they prefer to huddle. If I hand carry one or two, the others will follow. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can train them to do this on their own? I watch over them and I have become the proverbial "Mother Hen" but on the other hand I want them to do what is natural for them. They are healthy and growing nicely.

 

[HennyPenny2019]

I lock my chickens away at night in the coop above the run. When it gets dark, they start making a fuss and flapping and looking up so I know they want to go to bed. There is a ladder for them to go up to the coop or come down to the run in the mornings. All their food and water is down in the run but they prefer to huddle. If I hand carry one or two, the others will follow. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can train them to do this on their own? I watch over them and I have become the proverbial "Mother Hen" but on the other hand I want them to do what is natural for them. They are healthy and growing nicely.

I was searching for other info and read this. You didn’t say how old your girls were. If they are still young, They will learn to go in as they get older. My girls are 13 weeks old and I wasn’t sure they’d ever start going in at dusk ... but they do. I have what sounds like a similar set up, coop connected to enclosed pen. I start watching around dusk and when one gets up into the coop “porch” then they all go. At that time I go over and lock everything down. The hardest part of raising chickens for me so far (1st time ever) is being patient. Good luck.

 

[HennyPenny2019]

Oh, one other thing ... I made a kind of “step” verses a ladder for them to enter the coop. They hop up on it and then hop/ fly up to the porch and go into the coop.