Won’t Go in Coop at Night

[KRack]

View attachment 3089333

Here's an inside/outside pic of the coop!

The roosting bar looks pretty close to the wall to me. I'm not a coop expert by any means, but thought I'd add that just in case it's helpful!

 

[FredHill]

I'm new to all things chicken as well. One thing I learned, as mentioned by several others here, is that chickens don't roost by "gripping " their claws around a round, dowel rod type thing like you have. It's what you'd expect intuitively, but it just isn't the case. The chickens sleep flat footed on their roost. So a 2x4 hung flat is more appropriate to what their ancestors used to do when they would roost in the trees to avoid predators at night. Please, folks, correct me if I'm wrong. I've received so much help here at BYC, I thought I would try to "pay it forward".

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm new to all things chicken as well. One thing I learned, as mentioned by several others here, is that chickens don't roost by "gripping " their claws around a round, dowel rod type thing like you have. It's what you'd expect intuitively, but it just isn't the case. The chickens sleep flat footed on their roost. So a 2x4 hung flat is more appropriate to what their ancestors used to do when they would roost in the trees to avoid predators at night. Please, folks, correct me if I'm wrong. I've received so much help here at BYC, I thought I would try to "pay it forward".

Yes.

I use round branches, but they are at least as thick as my wrist or my husband's wrist.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you think that chickens don't grip try putting a chick on your finger or a older one on your wrist. Make your own determination. That would be perching, not when they are sleeping, but I've read on here that chickens cannot bend their toes to grip thus they need a flat surface..

What size and shape is best for roosts is a highly debated topic on here. People pull out various studies to support their position, whatever that position is. You can find studies looking at pressure applied to various parts of the foot based on roost shape. You can find studies based on which the chickens prefer. Typically location in the coop and height are tremendously more important to the chickens that the shape of the roost in those studies. Some express opinions that others say not in my observations. I'm thinking specifically of some people insisting that chickens have to roost on a flat surface so their feathers cover the feet in the cold, even if they are in Florida where it never freezes, yet someone who lives in truly cold weather says that it starts to have an effect around -20 F (-30 C). In my observations -10 F hasn't been a problem. This is where I'd typically insert a photo of a rooster choosing to roost on a round tree branch maybe 1-1/2" diameter when a 4" diameter branch is available but I lost all my photos due to a computer crash.

In my opinion (and it is just an opinion) people worry about the shape of a roost a lot more than the chickens do.

 

[Hazy]

This is our first time having chickens, so bear with us!

We moved our 6 week old chickens to the run/coop on Thursday. We have a large coop with a roost inside and then an fully enclosed run. Every night since we moved them out, they huddle in the corner of the run and won’t go in the coop. I’ve had to take my phone and use the flashlight to shine in the coop, and move all 8, one by one, into the coop. I hang out for a bit to make sure they don’t come out and then turn the light off and head inside.

The first 2 nights, 1 went to roost, but since, they only cuddle together in the corner of the coop.

Tonight, we placed a night light in the coop before dusk, hoping they’d go in. They were still all cuddled up on the corner of the run when I went out to check. I put them all in and turned off the light.

How do I get them to go in and to roost as well?

They may be to young and are getting cold at night so they still want to huddle together to keep warm.

 

[3KillerBs]

In my opinion (and it is just an opinion) people worry about the shape of a roost a lot more than the chickens do.

Words of wisdom, I think.

 

[rosemarythyme]

As far as what the "ideal" roost is, some folks on here have done some experimentation, so take a read through and decide what works for you.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-perch-experiment.74272/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-size-roosts-and-chickens-preference.1479341/

I use branches (free and plentiful) about 2". I may switch to 2x4s in the future but not because they're flat, but because that's what joist hangers are designed to hold up.

 

[ForensicNurse]

This is our first time having chickens, so bear with us!

We moved our 6 week old chickens to the run/coop on Thursday. We have a large coop with a roost inside and then an fully enclosed run. Every night since we moved them out, they huddle in the corner of the run and won’t go in the coop. I’ve had to take my phone and use the flashlight to shine in the coop, and move all 8, one by one, into the coop. I hang out for a bit to make sure they don’t come out and then turn the light off and head inside.

The first 2 nights, 1 went to roost, but since, they only cuddle together in the corner of the coop.

Tonight, we placed a night light in the coop before dusk, hoping they’d go in. They were still all cuddled up on the corner of the run when I went out to check. I put them all in and turned off the light.

How do I get them to go in and to roost as well?

I suggest putting them in at dusk every night and letting them out in the early AM to feed.
If it’s warm or they are very young, put a small portable waterer in the koop before you close the door.

They may have developed the habit of not going in, so do this for a week or two, then see if they go in on their own at dusk.

Make sure their roost poles are low enough for them to reach. When they are older they can roost higher.

If they are huddling they might be cold. Make sure their hen house is cozy and they are old enough to be outside (house) at night.

 

[Heather Australia]

This is our first time having chickens, so bear with us!

We moved our 6 week old chickens to the run/coop on Thursday. We have a large coop with a roost inside and then an fully enclosed run. Every night since we moved them out, they huddle in the corner of the run and won’t go in the coop. I’ve had to take my phone and use the flashlight to shine in the coop, and move all 8, one by one, into the coop. I hang out for a bit to make sure they don’t come out and then turn the light off and head inside.

The first 2 nights, 1 went to roost, but since, they only cuddle together in the corner of the coop.

Tonight, we placed a night light in the coop before dusk, hoping they’d go in. They were still all cuddled up on the corner of the run when I went out to check. I put them all in and turned off the light.

How do I get them to go in and to roost as well?

Six week old chickens is very young and normally the hen would guide them in.
The coupe itself is best closed off from the run, in my experience this delegates the safe roosting experience.
My lower pecking order hens, even though raised in the flock from hatching, required assistance for a while to go into the coupe at night.
I changed roosting beams to seperate and provide more space for higher pecking order hens and the rooster.
All is now fine, but sometimes my Faverolle hen gets carried in.

Good luck and patience. They are very young.

 

[Heather Australia]

Six week old chickens is very young and normally the hen would guide them in.
The coupe itself is best closed off from the run, in my experience this delegates the safe roosting experience.
My lower pecking order hens, even though raised in the flock from hatching, required assistance for a while to go into the coupe at night.
I changed roosting beams to seperate and provide more space for higher pecking order hens and the rooster.
All is now fine, but sometimes my Faverolle hen gets carried in.

Good luck and patience. They are very young.

And they do not like entering a dark space....