Roosting

[Zuke]

My Barred Rock chicks are 5 weeks old and living outside. They get into the coop, but, do not roost. How do I go about correcting this?

 

[PirateGirl]

At 5 weeks mine huddled more than they roosted. I did make a ramp up to the roost for them and they ran right up. I don't think they reaized they could go up on the roost at first and/or it was too difficult for them to get up there. Maybe try making a ramp? Just a long board from the roost to the floor should work.

 

[ChickNanny13]

How high off the ground is the roost? Yours are still young, my BOs were still on the ground at 18wks. In agreement with PirateGirl, thinking it's "too high" for them & their confidence will come with age. Patience....

 

[chickens really]

Soon enough they will roost...Without a Momma to teach them, human raised Chicks take longer to roost

 

[lazy gardener]

Agreed, they will eventually get it... as long as they can't sleep in the nest boxes. My chicks usually play on the roosts during the day, but pig pile at night. It takes them quite a while to "get it". Some clutches start roosting way before others do.

 

[PirateGirl]

Agreed, they will eventually get it... as long as they can't sleep in the nest boxes. My chicks usually play on the roosts during the day, but pig pile at night. It takes them quite a while to "get it". Some clutches start roosting way before others do.

EXACTLY. Mine initially played on the roosts far more than they actually slept on them. I imagine the play got them comfortable with being up there though and taught them about jumping on and off etc.

 

[azygous]

If left to their own devices, chicks will eventually discover the roosting perch is a delightfully high spot to sleep. They have an instinct to fly up to high places to sleep, and often you'll see them choose extremely improbable spots such as 2 x 4 braces between studs, and narrow window ledges.

However, there are also individuals that enjoy the security of sleeping on the floor or in a nest well into maturity. I have several older hens that have never let go of this urge, and I need to block off the nest boxes as a nightly routine.

One of these hens is my six-year old broody hen who is finishing rearing two chicks. If I hadn't blocked off their nest when the chicks turned five weeks and made them all roost, they would all still be sleeping in it because that's what this hen would prefer.

I therefore block off the nests and teach chicks to roost beginning at age five weeks, and they get the idea in very quick order if I place them on the perch each night.

 

[lazy gardener]

There are 2 rebels in my flock. I have to go out in the evening and sweet talk them out of the truss system of the sun room on a regular basis. Sometimes my sweet talk is verbal. Other times, my sweet talk consists of a prod to the tushie feathers with a fiberglass fence post, or a squirt from the garden hose. One of these gals is a confirmed trouble maker. I put them all in the run before dark last evening b/c we were leaving for a bit. I came home at dusk to find this EE gal pacing in front of the gate. Too bad, she missed a lovely treat of scratch grains!!!