Silkies don't want to roost in coop

[2wheelsdaily]

Got 2 Silky hens Saturday. Built them a tractor and every night right at dark I have to go get them and put them up into the roost. My Buffs and Marans I have in another tractor are in the coop an hour before dark. Is it normal for Silkies to want to sleep on the ground? I am afraid to let them sleep in the run because a coon or something might dig under and get them. I always shut up my chickens in the roost at night. Thanks for your input.

 

[CarriBrown]

Silkies, in general, don't like to be up high. Every Silkie I've ever owned has never roosted on a roost, always on a nest. I have one that we check on literally every night to make sure she made it up the ramp and into her coop. She has a hard time going up the ramp. Have you tried to watch them and see if that is the case?

 

[2wheelsdaily]

Thanks for the response. Today I doubled the number of slats on the ramp. After doing that, one went up and laid an egg and came back down but I didn't witness it. But when it got dark they were both still down on the ground.

 

[blueoval1]

I would lock them just in the coop part for jusr a couple of days.
Once they get used to sleeping in the coop they will go back in everynight.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Don't let them stay on the ground. Agree with blueoval...put them in there over and over...or leave them inside a couple of days, if it is cool enough. They will eventually start going in. Also, put a night light in the coop and they'll go in.

 

[2wheelsdaily]

Thanks for the responses, haven't thought of the nightlight. I'll try that this weekend. Had to put them in again tonight. They are not appreciating it either. Hope something works, I don't want to be tucking them in every night forever!