Roosts

[Tootieboot]

I have 6 hens and 1 rooster 8 weeks old . I have a open air coop / run 8 x 32. I live in Fl. They bed on the floor even though I have a roost with to ladders . They do get up on it from time to time . I just realized they are all sleeping right by the door in the corner at night. They did start to roost in there nesting boxes so I covered them for now. I have a fenced in yard all around my property and 2 dogs . My coop/run is very secure. Should I be worried about them doing that? And any thoughts as to fix this. Thanks

 

[DobieLover]

It is normal for pullets and cockerels that are human raised to take longer to figure out roosting.
Please post pictures of your very secure setup for further suggestions.

Welcome to BYC!

 

[Ted Brown]

Standard practice as chicks huddle when they are young.

Wait until dark and move them to the roosts. As long as they can navigate their ladder they will quickly adjust and get up on their own.

 

[SwissHouse]

Personally, main thing I would keep my self concerned with is that they are going into the coop at dusk. After that, they can do whatever they want as far as I care!
They will learn to use the roost. Its more of a mental security thing, than an actual physical safety measure, presuming your coop is properly secured after dark.

 

[Tootieboot]

It is normal for pullets and cockerels that are human raised to take longer to figure out roosting.
Please post pictures of your very secure setup for further suggestions.

Welcome to BYC!

Thank you for your information. I decided to make a gate out of my hard ware cloth to put across the 8ft. opening to to coop. I will make them go in that at night until they learn that's were they are supposed to be. Will be implementing it tonight.

 

[Tootieboot]

Standard practice as chicks huddle when they are young.

Wait until dark and move them to the roosts. As long as they can navigate their ladder they will quickly adjust and get up on their own.

They do like to huddle. I believe I have fixed the problem thanks to my smart sister. They go on there roost all the time but not a night. So we built a 8ft gate out of hard ware cloth to close them in that area at night. And when the girls get a little older and no what to do all take gate out.