Twelve week old chicks not roosting

[n3kms]

I have 10 six week old chicks(Barred Rocks) that are in a nice big coop with plenty of roost and no competition. I know at least some of them can fly as high as the lowest roost because some have flown onto my shoulder which is higher. I've put them up and on the roost during the day and they hop around a little, then jump back down. But they all sleep in the corner in a pile at night. I was wondering myself what age they usually decide to go high at night.

 

[sahmhomesteader]

I have 10 six week old chicks(Barred Rocks) that are in a nice big coop with plenty of roost and no competition. I know at least some of them can fly as high as the lowest roost because some have flown onto my shoulder which is higher. I've put them up and on the roost during the day and they hop around a little, then jump back down. But they all sleep in the corner in a pile at night. I was wondering myself what age they usually decide to go high at night.

Phew feeling so much better that my chicks aren't the only ones!

 

[seann]

My chicks didn't roost until they were 16+ weeks. They used the nesting boxes until then. The nesting boxes are open still but they all roost now (19+ weeks).

 

[n3kms]

We just put in the nest boxes and they are metal with no straw so they have ignored them so far. There are little wooden bars to get into the nest boxes and I keep thinking they will try to roost on them but not so far.

 

[aart]

Quote: I'd block off the nest boxes, very bad habit you don't want to condone and can be hard to break.