Will new chickens know where to roost?

[Busterchicken]

I have a pair of bantams, which I kept in their coop for two days before releasing them to free range. They roost in the coop every night. I would like to add five pullets to the (currently tiny) flock. Do I still need to keep them locked in the coop for the mandatory 24hours, or will they follow the first to chickens home? Ps. It is worth clarifying that one of the two bantams is a rooster (if dominance somehow plays a role in it).

 

[eggbert420]

They should learn where too roost fast . If not you will have to move them to the roost at night, for a few nights.

 

[FlyWheel]

I never had to teach my ladies where to lay. Sure, they dropped a few in random places at the start, but eventually they all chose to lay in the alcoves I made for them. No instruction necessary. A chicken will naturally seek out quiet, dark, out-of-the-way corners to pay their rent.

 

[azygous]

I recommend you do the cooping routine with the new ones. Don't assume they'll follow the established flock in at night. After all, they are not yet part of the flock and won't feel accepted, therefore, permitted to roost.

I had a new used hen I adopted, and while I didn't coop her, I did need to show her it was okay to use the coop and the roosting perch when she was set on roosting alone out in the run.

 

[sourland]

I agree with azygous.

 

[User395221]

Yes, I also agree. I've just introduced two new girls, and they huddled up in the run their first night, I had to put them inside. Now they go inside by themselves.