Getting your chickens to sleep normally at night is really good for their health. Unfortunately, this can be difficult to do. This article explains how to get chickens to sleep on the roost.
You can get chickens to sleep on roost by closing nest boxes, this leaves the chickens with no choice but to sleep on roosts. You can place the chickens on roosts manually, this gets them used to sleeping on roosts. Making the roost higher than the nest will also help because chickens choose the highest place to roost.
Healthy chickens will save you money and grow your flock very quickly. That’s why it is important to ensure that your chickens use their coop properly. Where your chickens sleep at night is very important, you don’t want your chickens to sleep in their nest boxes because they will soil them with their poop and also pick up a few bad habits.
Chickens are creatures of habit. Most of their behaviours are part of their nature but some others are picked up as they grow. Some of these habits can be quite harmless and cute, while others are bad for the flock and will cause problems for you. Depending on how your chickens behave, you might have to help them learn where is best for them to sleep – which is on roosts.
Table of Contents
How to get chickens to sleep on the roost?
Getting your chickens to use their roosts shouldn’t be a tough nut to crack. There are simple and effective measures you can take to make them use the roosts, some of which include;
- Closing up the nest boxes when you have newly introduced chickens: It might be hard for some chickens to resist going into the nest box to sleep but if they can’t get in there, they will have no choice but to use the roosting perch.
- Placing them on the roost manually: You can help your chickens learn new habits. Placing them manually on the roost works like a charm. Do it a few nights consecutively and they will learn to do it themselves.
- Making the roost higher than the nest box: Chickens choose the highest place to sleep by instincts. You can help them make the choice easier by placing the roost bar in the higher than the nest box.
Chickens have a natural instinct to sleep on perches. If yours don’t do that, many factors could be responsible for their choices. Check for these things in your flock if they don’t use their roosts at all.
- Are they brooding? If your chickens are already laying eggs, or are about to, they will stop climbing their roosts to sleep. This is the only time when they should be encouraged to use the nest box.
- Are they too young to notice the roost? Newly-hatched chicks don’t yet have any habits. They will take a few weeks to adapt to their new surroundings.
- Are they being bullied by the older chickens? This happens a lot to the younger chickens. If they are being bullied, they will find other places to go to avoid the bigger birds.
Why should chicks sleep on roosts other than nest boxes?
It’s cute when chickens pile up on each other when it’s time to sleep. Some chickens will sleep everywhere but their nest box. You might think it’s not an issue that chickens choose to sleep where they please, especially in their nest box, but the truth is, chickens should only sleep on their roosts, and there are good reasons for that, some of which include;
- When chickens band together to sleep, it leads to overheating, which is bad for their health.
- Chickens poop a lot overnight because their digestive system becomes more active when they sleep. If they sleep in their nest boxes, they will definitely soil their eggs, their feathers and, the box itself with their droppings, costing you more time and money.
- Sleeping in their nest boxes makes it more likely for them to break eggs and eat them. Once they develop this habit, they will keep it up for as long as possible.
- Sleeping in nest boxes instead of on roosts can lead to half incubated eggs, which is bad for you.
- Roosts keep chickens off the ground. This helps to protect them from lice and mites when they sleep. It also safeguards them from harmful bacteria they could contract if they slept on the floor.
Roosts help chickens sleep safely and more comfortably, making it the best place they should sleep.
At what age do chickens start roosting?
Chickens generally start roosting when they adapt to their surroundings. Some chickens start as soon as they are hatched (on low perches) while some others take weeks to learn. However, depending on the breed, chickens should start roosting between four to six weeks.
Some will start based on instincts, others will have to watch their peers do it a few times before they catch on.
Will chickens roost on a 2×4?
Yes, chickens will roost on a 2×4, The best perch for chickens to roost on is the material that lets their feathers cover their legs when they sleep, this will help them avoid frostbitten fingers during winter.
The easiest material for this is a 2×4 wooden bar, with the wide side facing up. Metal rods should be avoided as they can get very cold during winter. Round wooden or plastic materials should also be avoided to prevent frostbite.
You will have a healthier flock if they all sleep on their roosts. Now that you know what to do when they don’t use their roosts, you can help them learn to use it easily.
If you’re interested in chickens you may also be interested in these articles: why do chickens wag their tails, when do chickens start laying eggs after winter, why do chickens eat feathers, why do chickens have wings, how to get chickens to lay bigger eggs, why do chickens cluck, click the links to read more.
