To roost or not to roost

[wordgirl]

If chicks don't have roosts until they're put in the coop, will they know what to do when they suddenly have roosts to sleep on, or will they continue to sleep on the ground? We were wondering, because although we have some little roosts in their brooder for them to practice on at the moment, I'm guessing it won't be long before they'll be too tall to roost without hitting their heads on the brooder doors. If we take the roosts out in a couple weeks, will they roost when they're put into the coop? They should, shouldn't they???

 

[christytrav]

My chicks are six weeks old and I put them out in the coop a week ago. They roosted for the first time last night, right up on the top roost next to the rooster. They did not have a roost in their brooder box, so I guess they figure it out. If not you may have to put them up on the roost until they figure it out. I just got a new Polish hen and she wouldn't roost. For three nights I went out at dark and sat her on the roost. The fourth night I went down to put her on and she was already sitting up there. GOOD LUCK!

 

[firedove]

It is a chicken's natural instinct to roost at night. When they start to mature they automatically start looking for places to roost. Sometimes when I introduce young chickens into the coop they will sleep on the floor at first. Eventually they all end up on the roost though.

With the exception of my blind chicken Moon. Moon will likely never roost but I think she will be friends with my new Silkie hen when she comes. It will give her someone to snuggle with on the floor (since Silkies don't roost) after her current companions take to the roost, and she won't see how funny her new friend looks. I'm sure the other hens will want to pick on the Silkie for being different but I really do think she will make a wonderful companion for Moon!

So back to the subject at hand,

The group of young ones I have out there now had a roost in their brooder but now that they are out in the coop, half sleep in a pile in the corner of the floor. The other half are already up on one of the roosts. More take to the roost with every passing week. This group has actually been rather slow in deciding to roost and they, as I said, had a roost in the brooder. I really don't think you have to worry about roosts in your brooder, your chickens will do it naturally when the time comes.

The only thing to look out for is roosting on the feeder and waterer and hence pooping in the food and water. If your chicks seem determined to roost on those things you may want to build in a roost to give them a proper place.

 

[fcoop]

ok, so my stupid question for today.

My chickens are outside in their coop, they have a roost, and they do go inside as soon as night starts to hit, or if i call them in earlier. They are great at going inside in the evenings, they roam free each day for 7ish or so hours.

They do go and sit on their roost randomly throughout the day, and in the evenings if they are int here before i get tot hem, they are often on it, will they stay there for the night? or will they go in the closed off bit? where i assume they will lay eggs? It seems a bit big for a nesting box... however too small for me to put a roost in there...