Overnight roosting

[Harvey01]

My chickens huddle in a corner of my outside run as opposed to coming inside the coop where the roosting bar is available to them. With winter temperatures dropping here in NJ, should I be concerned with them staying outdoors at night? Why haven't they decided to seek the shelter of the weather?

 

[FridayYet]

Yes, you probably should be concerned with winter coming on. How old are your chickens?

You might try locking them in the coop for a few days until it feels like home. Also, try to find out why they don't go in. Is it too dark? Does it have enough ventilation? Sometimes adding a window in the coop can really help.

Good luck!

 

[Harvey01]

My chickens are almost 7 months and I've had them for about 3 months. I have thought about locking them up at night but wasn't sure if that was the natural thing to do. There is plenty of ventilation and light and a long roosting 2x4 for all 9 to roost. I just thought they would navigate themselves out of the wind and cold by now.

 

[FridayYet]

They are creatures of habit and are probably used to sleeping in the run. To change that behavior, you'll need to put them on the roosts every night for several nights or lock them in for a few days. Did they ever roost inside at night? In my case, I would have put them inside starting the first day.

Once they learn it's nicer in the coop, they'll start putting hemselves to bed in there.

Sometimes I have to train the juvies to go inside. But if I don't, they could become coyote food. They need to sleep in the coop for their own protection.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[drumstick diva]

Agree totally with Friday Yet. Chickens are far from brilliant. They have to be taught good habits. You can lock them in the coop for a few days with water & food, so they realize it is HOME. If they don't go in a dusk and roost, they may be afraid of a dark coop. Sometimes a small light on timer is all they need till they adapt. Have it come on at dusk and go off after 20 minutes or so.

 

[ChickNanny13]

They are creatures of habit and are probably used to sleeping in the run. To change that behavior, you'll need to put them on the roosts every night for several nights or lock them in for a few days. Did they ever roost inside at night? In my case, I would have put them inside starting the first day.

Once they learn it's nicer in the coop, they'll start putting hemselves to bed in there.

Sometimes I have to train the juvies to go inside. But if I don't, they could become coyote food. They need to sleep in the coop for their own protection.

Agree totally with Friday Yet. Chickens are far from brilliant. They have to be taught good habits. You can lock them in the coop for a few days with water & food, so they realize it is HOME. If they don't go in a dusk and roost, they may be afraid of a dark coop. Sometimes a small light on timer is all they need till they adapt. Have it come on at dusk and go off after 20 minutes or so.

Totally agree! When I got my 5 Blue Wynadottes about a month ago, they were 28 wks. They would not roost at night, so I TRIED to put them on the roost at dusk. Ha ha, they instantly flew off as I put one up, I gave up. Left them alone, next morning didn't see poop on the poop board but found a bunch in a corner. They're enclosure is secure so I wasn't worried about them sleeping on the ground. The next night I closed them up & heard a bunch of wings flapping & squawking, peeked in & they were up on the roost figuring out who's sleeping where. Been good since....Love that poop board

 

[redsoxs]

Hello from Kansas, Harvey01, and ! Great to have you with us! Good luck with your roosting issue and thanks for joining BYC.

 

[CuzChickens]

Hello there, and welcome to Backyard Chickens! I am so glad you joined us, I do hope you will make yourself at home here. Enjoy BYC!