Pullets not roosting

[myCatalina]

My pullets are around 18 weeks old and are still not using the roosts to sleep in the coop. They will get on the one outside in the run and will walk around on the one in the coop but they don't sleep on them. Instead they cram all on top of each other in a corner of the coop. During the night they will spread out a little but are still sleeping on the ground (shavings). It has been cold here but the coop temp is usually in the 40's with no breezes. Is this normal?

 

[JedJackson]

Sometimes they need a little help getting used to roosting. I would first check to see if the roosting bars are sturdy. Even the tiniest bit of shaking and instability can put them off roosting at night.

Height of the roosts, drafts blowing where the roosts are, or the materials used to make the roost can all be factors.

If all is well, try placing them on the roost in the evening, and keep doing it for a few days.

If they simply won't roost, it is okay. They may just prefer to be on the ground. Snuggled up together it is probably nice and warm. You could try moving the roost or making new ones that they might like better.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Any photos of the roost to see if there's a way to improve them? Is the coop adequately lit at dusk (either naturally or artificially) so they can navigate and see the roosts?

Assuming the above are fine, if you don't have roosting adult birds it does usually take young birds longer to figure it out on their own. You can wait them out if you don't mind them being on the ground, or physically place them on the roost each night until they figure it out.

 

[Three Stents]

My pullets are around 18 weeks old and are still not using the roosts to sleep in the coop. They will get on the one outside in the run and will walk around on the one in the coop but they don't sleep on them. Instead they cram all on top of each other in a corner of the coop. During the night they will spread out a little but are still sleeping on the ground (shavings). It has been cold here but the coop temp is usually in the 40's with no breezes. Is this normal?View attachment 4268173View attachment 4268175

this is exactly what my 16 week old girls are doing

 

[Tired old Rooster]

Seems way to long. My two pullets were 5 weeks old on Monday and they went up to the roost with their Mom last night.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

… Is the coop adequately lit at dusk (either naturally or artificially) so they can navigate and see the roosts?

… My two pullets were 5 weeks old on Monday and they went up to the roost with their Mom last night.

Two important points, a bit related!

Chickens have pretty pitiful night vision. Without a bit of light or someone to guide them, they might not want to risk flying up in the dark to where they hope the roosts are.

Maybe get a battery-powered puck light, like you can buy for closets, stuck just inside the coop door.

Also, since they’re relatively young, how high up are the coop roosts? Mine were in a cuddle-puddle their first night here, but on the second night, they were up on the Nestera roosts, a whopping 11” off the floor.

 

[myCatalina]

Two important points, a bit related!

Chickens have pretty pitiful night vision. Without a bit of light or someone to guide them, they might not want to risk flying up in the dark to where they hope the roosts are.

Maybe get a battery-powered puck light, like you can buy for closets, stuck just inside the coop door.

Also, since they’re relatively young, how high up are the coop roosts? Mine were in a cuddle-puddle their first night here, but on the second night, they were up on the Nestera roosts, a whopping 11” off the floor.

I do have a night light in the coop. The coop height is only 36" so the roosts are lower and there are 2 different heights (1ft and 2 1/2ft). I know they are fully feathered but I just worry they are cold and I need to add heat. Even though I have read 1000 times they are fine. LOL. It's the Mom in me.

 

[myCatalina]

Any photos of the roost to see if there's a way to improve them? Is the coop adequately lit at dusk (either naturally or artificially) so they can navigate and see the roosts?

Assuming the above are fine, if you don't have roosting adult birds it does usually take young birds longer to figure it out on their own. You can wait them out if you don't mind them being on the ground, or physically place them on the roost each night until they figure it out.

 

[myCatalina]

My pullets are around 18 weeks old and are still not using the roosts to sleep in the coop. They will get on the one outside in the run and will walk around on the one in the coop but they don't sleep on them. Instead they cram all on top of each other in a corner of the coop. During the night they will spread out a little but are still sleeping on the ground (shavings). It has been cold here but the coop temp is usually in the 40's with no breezes. Is this normal?View attachment 4268173View attachment 4268175

 

[myCatalina]

Sometimes they need a little help getting used to roosting. I would first check to see if the roosting bars are sturdy. Even the tiniest bit of shaking and instability can put them off roosting at night.

Height of the roosts, drafts blowing where the roosts are, or the materials used to make the roost can all be factors.

If all is well, try placing them on the roost in the evening, and keep doing it for a few days.

If they simply won't roost, it is okay. They may just prefer to be on the ground. Snuggled up together it is probably nice and warm. You could try moving the roost or making new ones that they might like better.

Good ideas. I will try putting them on the roost. It is a sturdy roost. There may be a draft on the top roost that I am just not feeling but it seems like they would at least roost on the smaller on.