roosting - what should I do ?

[Dee Dee 2]

I have 12 chicks in a pen. Two roost 14 " off ground, 2x4 's layed flat. 6 J.G.'s, 3 R.I.R. , 3 Buff. Hatched END OF APRIL. They are STILL bunching in a pile in a corner at night. Have tried picking them up and putting on perch. It is comedy hour. Put 2 up one jumps down. Usually on top of the pile. Put one on roost 2 jump down. HELP ! I think I have roost dificit chickens.

 

[Shabana]

Lol I,m doing something similar at the moment but I,ve found the later I go into the coop - once they are pretty much asleep and it's getting pretty much dark, the higher my success rate. Its a battle of wills, hang in there !

 

[Timskins]

How old are they? If they are bunching together at night still could they be cold?

 

[iheartnh]

Mine did the same thing - they would all crowd together just inside the door of the coop, so that when I would go out at night to close their hatch, they would fall out. I made it impossible for them the lie there - used scrap wood and some bricks we had, placed at odd angles so they couldn't get a foot hold or comfortable in that spot. They took care of the rest themselves - when I went out that first night, they were all on the roost.

 

[Percheron chick]

My group that hatched 3-1 just graduated to the perch at night so not uncommon for them to still be sleeping in a pile on the ground at 4 months.

 

[donrae]

Why worry about it? It's like toilet training a toddler, they'll roost when they're ready. It's not a problem to sleep on the ground.