Not sleeping on roosting bars, please help!

[ktklages]

So my chickens moved out to the coop about 2 weeks ago and they're still not sleeping on their roosting poles. The first few nights they slept all huddled together in one of the nesting boxes, and I let them, thinking it was okay since they were scared. But now, it has gone on for too long! The past week, I've been going out after dark and physically placing them on the roosting bar. They stay there all night if I do that. However, I've been having to do this EVERY night and they're still not catching on. I have even gone as far as completely removing the nesting boxes, but now they're just huddling in the corner practically on top of one another. The roosting bar is a 2 x 4 and they don't seem to have any problem with it. It's not to high, so they can jump up on it easily and its the highest thing inside of the coop. Also, if it matters, they are 10 weeks old. I figured they should eventually figure it out on their own, but I keep hearing that it's bad for them to sleep where they nest. What should i do? Thanks!

 

[98cummins]

hi
how high off the ground are the perches? post a picture of the in side of the coop if you can. I had the same problems with my birds they would not roost. I made the roosts higher with a ramp they could walk up to get to them and still had to put them up on it every night for about 2 weeks but they do it now.

 

[chfite]

I have some that slept on the floor for weeks, before deciding to use the roosts. I just let them figure it out.

Chris

 

[BunkyB]

It could be kind of cold for mthem as well being younger birds. The huddle factor is common when youngins are cold. As already mentioned make sure your roosting bars are not too high up and yes, be persistant and set them on the roosts if you have to. They eventually will catch on. Sometimes you got to train yer chickens... Time will tell the tale... Steve

 

[ktklages]

Thanks for all the advice! The coop has enough room in it for another roosting bar, so Ill add another one with a different height and see if they go for it on their own then. I guess I'm gonna have to start being so impatient and wait them out! I'm glad to see I'm not the only one experiencing this problem!

 

[UnlabeledMama]

It took my chickens months to figure out the roosts were for sleeping and not just for playing!

 

[Gallinaceous]

I've had my chickens 6 months, they are a little less than a year old, and they STILL don't use the roosting bar. They just sleep in a little dog pile all on top of one another. It's quite cute, but I can't imagine it's very healthy for them. I've come to the conclusion that they just don't like their roosting bar or maybe it isn't placed in the right spot?!! I don't know, but I share your frustration. Unfortunately my coop doesn't have a set up that I can change this very easily, but I think I need to build a bigger one anyway.

 

[ktklages]

I just can't imagine the dog pile being all that comfortable either, but they all seem to fight over who gets to be on the bottom!

 

[Gallinaceous]

I just can't imagine the dog pile being all that comfortable either, but they all seem to fight over who gets to be on the bottom!

My boss hen sleeps on the bottom and she's the smallest chicken. The other two, who are significantly bigger, pile on top on her. It's so weird! Maybe it keeps her warm?? Hopefully they'll knock it off when the weather warms up...Argg.