Not using the roost?

[rauch65]

I had the same problem. You are going to have to show them how to roost. I had to go out to the chicken house at about dusk and start putting them on the roost. There is going to be a lot of resistance . They may keep jumping off roost at first . Just keep putting them back on roost , as it gets dark outside they will stay put. This ritual will have to be done for about three or four evenings , before they get the hang of it. They may want to pile up on the roost too, so you will have to break that habit also. Just keep separating them. Be persistent.

 

[chickenboy190]

For the first time I put them in my coop they slept in a pile for like two or three days but then they slept on the roost every night after that and now they love it.

 

[GuppyTJ]

My 10 chicks started using their roost at 9 weeks old. I built the coop with the roost already installed by the time I moved them from the house brooder into the coop at 6 weeks old. They started by exploring the roost during the day, climbing up the "ladder" but would sleep on the ground at night in a little group. One night at about 9 weeks old, they just all got up there. It's tough to watch them jockeying for a spot on the roost. As others have said, this seems to be where they can be very rough on each other.

Here's a picture of my roost. My roost is a 2 x 4 with the wide side up. I like this design because it lets them pass under each other on the beam, albeit with a lot of squawking and resistance from the chicken being passed under. I intend to buy a second poop tray to add to this one I already had. The chickens like the left side of the roost, maybe because it's by the ventilation/door. I also made it so I can move the roost, it's not attached to the wall. In the winter, I'll move it to the other side of the coop (to basically where I'm taking the picture from). This is away from the door so they will not be in a draft. So far, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, the coop and all.

Guppy