Question about roosting

[jtr]

you dont need a light just put them in and close the door and you might have to put them on the roosts

 

[Pele]

Usually, when I am placing birds in a new coop for the first time, I actually keep them penned in the coop for the first 2 days. This establishes the coop as 'home base' and a safe place to sleep. After that, they'll religiously return to it at night.

And don't worry about them not roosting, my birds did the dogpile on the floor up until they were 18 weeks old! I went out a couple of nights and put them all up on the roost, and a few weeks later, they put themselves up every night. Finally, I have chickens acting like chickens.

Persistance is key. You might have to move them a couple of times, but with time and repitition, they'll be roosting like you want.

 

[wilcoxmad]

I read somewhere that you should lock them in their coop for 3 days when you first introduce them to it. Worked for me mine all head in about 20 minutes before dark. And as stated above add some ventilation to that coop! You are in a hot climate.

 

[herechickychicky]

Quote:
Nope, I'm in Marion, NY.

I don't leave them out there all night, I do put them in the coop when it gets dark. I was hoping they would go in there on their own when they want to sleep instead of sleeping on their "porch" right next to the chicken door. I haven't put the netting up on the run yet for the roof, but that's in the works. I do have windows on the coop with the hardware cloth, they are on the other side so they don't show up in the picture I posted.

 

[herechickychicky]

Quote:
My chicks are about 7 weeks old. My coop does have windows with hardware cloth over them, they just don't show up in the pic because they are on the other side. I did keep them in the coop for 3 days without letting them out. They do return to the coop, they just don't go inside the coop to sleep. They'll settle down right next to the door and try to sleep there. It's not really a big problem for me at the moment, actually when they are half-zonked it makes it real easy to just place them inside. I have already learned it's pretty pointless chasing them around the run, they are fast little buggers.

 

[herechickychicky]

Quote:
It isn't so much the roosting that's bothering me at the moment, it's the fact that they don't take the two or three final steps to go inside the door when they want to go to bed. They'll pile up next to the door and try to sleep there. I'll keep working with them on it. They do return to the coop, but for whatever reason they don't want to go inside even though it's literally only two or three steps further.

 

[Kyle241]

I agree about putting a light in there if you can even if it is temporary. Run an extension and put a low watt bulb or heat bulb in there for just enough light to make them feel safe.

 

[herechickychicky]

Last night they all went into the coop.

All I had to do was close the door. I did have a flashlight out there for them to see if it made any difference. Apparently it did. I'll try it again tonight. If they go in again tonight maybe I can hook up some battery powered lighting out there for them for now until we figure out what to do for a more permanent solution. Thanks, all!

 

[markandcindy]

I have a string of LED Christmas lights that are powered by a small solar panel and really are not super bright. I left them tied up in a bunch, hung it in the corner inside the coop, and put up the little solar panel outside. I have used this for 8 months with no problems and it is just enough light to be a good nightlight. I think I bought it at Big Lots or Walmart for about $10.

My chickens have always come into the coop in the evening when it gets dark but I spent about 2 weeks going out and putting them up on the roosts after dark. They all sleep up there now except for one silkie who prefers to nestle in the sand.