Why won't they roost?

[thechickenchick]

As far as temp it has been real close to 0 the last few nights. We have put a space heater in there to maintain a temp between 53 and 60. Is that about right? Too hot, too cold?

 

[Portia]

I am by no means an expert, but at 9 weeks the should be getting used to cooler temperatures...I'd think 30's to 40's. Zero is cold, though, and I'd certainly be fretting overnight with my girls. I keep my thermometer above the heat lamp, so I know the ambient temps in the coop overall, knowing that if the girls are cold the temps beneath the heat lamp are much warmer than the rest of the coop. I have also read here and in several sources that draughts can be a concern, so I'm careful about what windows I leave open and when. Unless I know its not going to get below 45, I won't leave the window near their roost open because I know they sleep there. In the last few nights it has been 48 degrees at the lowest in the coop...I have a remote thermometer that I keep next to the bed so I can check frequently. Again, I'm just a beginner...so please add that clause to all of my comments.

 

[thechickenchick]

Thank you for your advice.

My husband kept telling me that they should be getting used to cooler temp too! Guess I have to tell him that he was right, again!! I got a giggle out of what you said about the thermometer! Because I do the same thing! The first night they were in the coop I didnt sleep I was so worried. My husband finally said ,"Why dont you just take the darn thing to bed with you?" So I did! Its 4:30AM and I just snuck out to spy on the girls and 8 out of the 11 are roosting right where I left them at 8:40 last night. Again though I had to physically place each one up there as they were all in their pile again at bed time!

 

[Portia]

It may just be that right now they are used to sleeping in a pile, but my understanding is that they naturally roost, so I'd assume that given time they will migrate there for sleeping. Do they roost during the day? When I can't see my girls in the yard I know they are most likely under the deck roosting. They also love to pile up in the mulch under the pine trees. I'll have to get a picture of that because the pile does not look like it contains 15 chickens; its amazing how much they can smush together! Oh yeah, when mine do that there is always 1 or 2 that come along and step on everyone to nestle into the center of their mosh pit. Disrupt the whole lot, but they settle back down quickly.

 

[kimbachick]

I'm so glad I read this! I'm in SoCal and it's only been getting down in the 50s overnight. Ha! I can't believe I've been worried about them even with the heat lamp in their coop! They're about 9 weeks old so I guess it's time to take out their "baby cage" (an old bunny hutch) and let them snuggle on the floor if they want, or hopefully start roosting! I do have 4 week old meat birds in with them, but my older egg layers hog the heat lamp, so I'm sure everyone will be just fine.

Does anyone know how wide the roosts should be? Is there a specific width they need to sit comfortably or balance. I have some 1x2 and also just pvc pipe. They haven't gone for the pvc pipe yet.