Teaching babies to roost inside at night?

[siroiszoo]

Quote:
That's 2 votes for the light.

Thanks! I'm gonna try it.

 

[siroiszoo]

Quote:
That's 2 votes for the light.

Thanks! I'm gonna try it.

 

[cmom]

I can't make them use the roosts but the chicks go into their coop every night and all I have to do is shut their pop door. Also they have a night light.

 

[siroiszoo]

Sorry Friends! I have no idea why my computer seems to be double posting my repsonses.

This is new! I'll try to fix it.

 

[siroiszoo]

Sorry Friends! I have no idea why my computer seems to be double posting my repsonses.

This is new! I'll try to fix it.

 

[newchicksnducks]

Make sure the coop has plenty of ventilation. I even put my 2x4 roosts in front of an open window (secured with hardware cloth). I put my 6 week olds in with my 11 week old chicks, separated by poultry net for one week. Then I released them into the run all together. At night the EE went to bed by 8:00 (before dusk), and I coaxed the remaining in with crumbles on the ramp. From then on, all the birds put themselves to bed in the coop by dusk. (more like 9:30 here) The young ones even roosted by 7 1/2 weeks.
Good luck!

 

[siroiszoo]

Well, the light definitely works - to a degree. Because the front of my coop is so open (chicken mesh attached to the framework with a old screen door for the opening; no ramp just hop right in or out), my chicks went to the light but not inside. I even stuck a board up to block the light from shining outside in an attempt to draw them inside.

But, at least, they weren't all huddled around the front gate that I use to get into the little yard I fenced off for them and the hen house.

When I got them all in the safety of the hen house, they started chasing the June Bugs that had accumulated. They screamed when I turned the light off. So I plugged it back in and gave them some time to settle in. An hour later, when I turned the light off, they all started screaming again.

I thought GREAT! Now I have chicks that are scared of the dark! They did eventually settle down.

Tonight I will try a light bulb with less wattage and try a different position for the light.

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[siroiszoo]

PS: I was also wondering if it might help if I add one of my standard cochin hens to my little chick flock. My cochins always liked roosting in that hen house. So, I was wondering if she would encourage them to go inside. I mean afterall, they spent the first 6 weeks of their life in there.

But, is it safe to put a big hen in with the little chicks? Never done that before so I am hesitant.

Too bad I didn't do it when they first came in. One of my cochins was determined to nest even though I was taking the eggs from her. In her mind, her eggs would have been hatching the same time the chicks arrived. I thought about it at the time but didn't see a need for it, at least not then.

Any opinions on this?

 

[muell112]

I use one of those low wattage fluorescent bulbs - 14 watts I think. I leave it on all night. I tried one night without it and the cornish crosses couldn't find the water and were parched by morning. So it stays on all night. The bug eating seems to be a protein bonus, and entertainment.

 

[siroiszoo]

Going out for a lower watt light bulb today and a new timer to attach it too.

I would thinks birds have to sleep sometime, so I don't want them running all night chasing bugs.

I noticed that the chicks were going back to their old place to nest last night - the front gate that enters into the little run I made for them.

So, before it got too dark, I was able to herd most of them into the hen house; only had to pick up about 7 chicks to put inside the house. I was cracking up because when they saw the light in the hen house, they 'woke up' - if you will. It was like a little light in their brain went on and they started eating & drinking and chasing bugs. They went from sleep mode to awake mode.

Anyway, cause it was heating up the house - there was no breeze last night - I had to turn it off. Amazing how in hot humid weather you can feel the heat coming from a lightbulb.

My poor babies started crying, again, when I turned the light out. I felt bad but wanted to make things as cool as possible for them.

Another strange thing. They still huddle in one pile to sleep but by morning they are up on the perches waiting for the door to open. I think they like to fly out of the hen house. We even built a tiny perch, close to the ground for them when they were about 2 or 3 weeks old. They will play on it during the day but won't perch at night. These have been the most interesting chicks I have ever had.