[HesterF]

I've noticed that when I introduce new chickens to the hen house, they quite often don't roost but sleep on the floor for a bit. They seem to go up naturally after a few days. But this time I introduced four new hens (after a short period of quarantine in close proximity) two and a half weeks ago and they're still 'roosting' on the floor. Not only that but they seem to huddle underneath the perches rather than going to the other corner where they wouldn't be in the line for flying poo (not that I've noticed any of them suffering from it). Is this normal? Should I do anything to encourage them up or will it just be part of their general integration with the rest (the rest being seven others - a mix of cockerels and hens)? By day they're becoming much more integrated although they do quite often split into their two groups.

Hester

[Mammyshaz]

Cannot help with your query but will be reading replies as we acquired some pullets 18months ago and they have never roosted, they always sleep on the floor at night.
Through the day they use both indoor and outdoor perches. I've not bothered about why, they seem happy enough with this so just leave them to it.
( but they don't have dropping poo from above like yours  )

[hughesy]

Some of ours perch, some roost on the floor. Can't see why it matters so long as they're healthy.

[Lion Learners]

We're having a similar problem. Our chickens have never used their perches and instead sleep in a pile in the corner. The problem is the hen house has a stone floor and I worry they are getting chilled! So for the last few nights we have been going in at night and putting them on the perches. This works fine with the Rhode islands but it's not going well with the bantams...

I don't know why they've never used their perches. I wonder if maybe the original ones we had in there were to small for the Rhode islands' feet. I've since changed over to wider ones so hopefully it's just a case of teaching the hens to use them!

Does anyone else have any suggestions for what might have been wrong?

[HesterF]

Well at least I'm not alone! I wondered whether it was because the house we use for quarantine is much smaller with a lower roof so none of them have ever roosted in there - just doesn't seem to be enough headroom for LF (even young ones). So when they move into the main house I wondered whether they just kept up their new found habit. I was watching through the window at perching time tonight and one of the cockerels was down on the floor with the new hens pecking them about a bit so maybe it is all pecking order stuff. I must admit I did intervene because I thought he was being a bully (yes, I know it's normal behavriour) so I opened the main door and put him on a perch where he did stay. But the hens all stayed down.....

Hester

[jaykay]

I think it may be a pecking order thing, if you have perches at different heights, the 'top' chickens roost on the highest ones.....

But I also tend to assume that if they were really uncomfortable on the floor, they'd elbow their way onto the perches, as long as there's plenty of room?

Another reason for not using perches is the dreaded red mite which tends to lurk under the end of perches (good reason for having them removable) and crawl along and bite them in the night. Of course red mite can lurk anywhere, but it's worth checking out.

[mentalmilly]

Most of our chucks roost and a few others dont. Dont know why and they dont do it all the time but seem happy enough.