Heat conservation is likely first concern. Under natural conditions (as jungle fowl) some protection from some predators may also be realized. Your chickens likely consider themselves jungle fowl.So I'm guessing the proper wording would be chicks until they are laying or gone threw their first molt. Sorry about that. They use the roost during the day, but not clear if they actually use it at night. My husband made them a little one to start with, but they got too big to use it. Again, my original question is.....
Why do they all huddle in the corner the way they do?