will moving roost upset chickens

[newchicks]

As you can tell from my question I'm not only new to BYC but new to being a chicken owner. I love it, but am wondering about how upsetting it'll be for us to move the chickens roost to a different part of the barn. When our horse passed away these chickens showed up..isn't it funny how things work out? Anyway we need to move them from the horse stall, which has 3 walls that face the west north and south.....cold. And we do have an interior area that has gravel and it faces the south with 3 interior walls, which will be much warmer for them. But we're going to move the roost tomorrow to be ahead of the weather change, and being in KS you never know when it'll go below 32. So we'll be moving their roost, and I was wondering how confusing that will be for them. Also should I move their nesting boxes too even though they can go into that area to take dust bathes etc. I'm apprehensive about upsetting their little routine...am I being silly?

 

[beakkeeper]

First of all,

Your chickens will probably be a little upset and go back to the same spot where the old roosts were. When they finally go to bed, move them gently onto the new roosts. The next morning they will wake up, go thru the day, and should then return to their new home. Don't let any stragglers go back to the old roosts, though, block it off if you can.

 

[debilorrah]

Ditto beakeeper. That is the best idea. Last time I read about this it only took that person twice before the birds got it.

 

[cmom]

I agree with the other posts.

 

[newchicks]

Thank you for the great advice. We only have 2 hens, and they don't resist being picked up, so gently moving them will be easy. Their roost is a large cattle panel with a hand made chicken sized ladder leading up to it. So we're going to just move the panel and ladder into the other area. Do you think we should move their nesting boxes too? Since I knew nothing about chickens, they made a nest in a dry water tank, fortunately I had put hay out in the feed bunks and also this water tank. So they would be easy to move. That's my other concern, that they don't have "real" nesting boxes. Does it really matter?

Thanks to all who help me out, because these two girls which I think are RIR's, are very dear to our family, a husband you talks baby chicken talk to them, our 11 year old black lab that thinks their poo is the best thing since bacon, and our 13 year old cat that has never backed down to anything. We're all fascinated by them, and want to do right by them.

 

[cmom]

oops duplicate.

 

[wendy]

we had to move our roost and thy did okay. there were one or two from what i remember still wanting to go where it was. so i just picked them up softly and moved them to where they needed. i think it took them a few nights to adjust. but 98% had no problem.

wendy

 

[Chirpy]

Welcome to BYC!

I have done exactly what you are asking. We added onto our chicken coop and moved the roost from one side to the whole new area.

It took my nine hens almost two whole weeks to get them all going to the new roost. It really seemed to throw them. I went out every night and moved them from the floor, the pop hole and the nest boxes to the new roosts. Once they all finally figured it out they have continued to go to the new roosts since then.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Move the water tank with them. Lots of things come in handy for nesting boxes and I do believe there's at least one other BYC'er that uses a water tank turned on its side as a nesting box.

 

[Biddieacres]

Your husband is funny talking chicken baby talk to them. I think that is cute. Is it possible to keep them in their new area for a full day and a half maybe. This way they can really get used to the new area and know it is their new home.