Roosting?

[2Sesslers]

I introduced my six 7-8 week old hens to the coop overnight last week. I {thankfully} only had to put them in one night, and they had the hang of it, now they go in every night at dusk. However, they are sleeping on the floor huddled up. We live in NC and it has been warm, only getting down to the mid 50s at night. Is this for warmth? Should I be concerned? Last night I went out at dusk and placed a few of them on the roost, and they sqwaked and ran out of the coop {they came right back in} - maybe it wasn't dark enough?

Should I be concerned?

Thanks in advance for your help

 

[Ciqala]

This is my first time with chickens, my twelve are about the same age as your's and they've been out for about 3 weeks and still sleep all huddled up in one corner. They have a roost higher than everything else in there, with a ramp up to it, they do use it but I'm not sure when 'cuz whenever I lock them up they're huddled in that corner.

 

[Hayduke27]

How high are your roosts? Can they jump up on to them unassisted, and have you seen them on the roosts during the day?

My chicks have had a roosting instinct since I first got them, and roosted on the chick feeder in the brooder. I have 2 roosts in my Coop, at 2 and 4 feet high. My chicks are only 5 weeks old, but a few of them love to jump on anything high, and they like to fly onto the 2 foot roost. They don't sleep up there yet, I suspect it is still just too far from the flock to be comfortable over night. When I put smaller logs on the floor they love to roost on them. You might just want to put a log on the floor in the area they like to roost, see if they like to sit on there.

 

[Judy]

I wouldn't worry about it. I've had them roost with their mama at a couple of weeks, and I've had them wait 4 or 5 months. They may be sleeping cuddled together for the seccure feeling, for warmth, out of habit -- whatever. They will roost on their own when they are ready.

 

[woodmort]

Don't worry, they'll eventually find their way to the roost--it is not uncommon for young birds to huddle until they get the hang of it. As far as height--my 6-week old chicks have already gotten over a 4-ft high barrier so I know they can get that high.

 

[2Sesslers]

Yes, they get on the roost all the time. I have seen them napping on it during the day. Right now, they are temporary as we wanted them to be low enough that they weren't scared to get up - so they are about 1 ft. off the ground. I suppose there are several reasons that they would be huddling, and I'm thinking it is for comfort/warmth. That is what they did in the brooder, so their instinct to roost to sleep will kick in whenever they are good and ready.

 

[debid]

It's a security thing -- snuggling together takes the place of contact with a hen. With a broody, chicks move to the roost quite young so you could put them up there every night to teach them or you can leave them be and they'll move in their own time.

 

[2Sesslers]

Thanks everyone for all of your help!

Loving BYC more and more each day in my new Chicken adventure

 

[Hayduke27]

Isn't this a great site?! And

 

[2Sesslers]

Yes, it's so good to be informed!