The Poultry Keeper

samndoo · Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 35 Location: Sheffield, S Yorks

I know I'm new to all this, & this is probably a really daft question.

Just got the girls (Saturday) each night one has gone up alone, we've lifted the others in by darkness. Just gone down to check them, and Rolling Eyes

they have all gone up by themselves but sleeping in the nest box, all except one which was stuck on the perch with her head poking into the nest box Sad

Is this because they are too cold. They are in a Forsham ark, I've put newspaper and sawdust (dust extracted) under the perch and in the nest box. Should I add straw too Question

I won't sleep tonight thinking that they are freezing to death Crying or Very sad

What to do?

Knobby · Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 9:33 pm Post subject:

theyll be fine.....do they normally perch ???

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I think they're just a little uncertain still, and the only common thing they have is each other, so they want to be together. I wouldn't think they're cold. Is it possible to take the nest box out (I don't know the ark at all)? Is the perch higher than the nest box? If it isn't then they will be tempted to go in the box. Some people cover the front of the box at night to stop them going in or make a kind of curtain for it from cheap car mats I think. I think that they will probably come out once they're more settled in their home ~ it's only their third night. I think patience is the key

NannyP · Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 9:41 pm Post subject:

One thing you can be sure of, is they won't be cold. I know that the forecast is for cold temps in some parts of the country, but those hens will keep each other warm, they'll just snuggle up. Tell them NannyP's hens are locked out of the coop tonight and have to sleep underneath, then they'll be grateful for the warmth you're providing Laughing

Knobby · Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 9:42 pm Post subject:

You cruel evil woman !!! Evil or Very Mad

NannyP · Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 9:47 pm Post subject:

samndoo · Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 35 Location: Sheffield, S Yorks

Thanks guys, that's very re-assuring Anxious

feel loads better, just realised that ew can shut the door to the nest box to stop them kipping in there.

The perch is higher than the nest box, so I'm not at all sure why they seem to prefer it in there newb

Knobby · Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 9:54 pm Post subject:

Theyre dead posh those forshams !!!! Smile

Lisa · Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 9:55 pm Post subject:

Don't worry about them being cold. Remember what goes into duvets? Feathers!! They are wearing their own personalised little duvets Laughing

The only thing to watch out for with chickens is damp, or draughts. A decent house will prevent both. I've had a maximum/minimum thermometer in my shed. I think it's got down to minus 4 or 5, but the chooks have been fine Wink

Regards perching - just remember this house is all new to them, even if they perched before. One way to encourage them to use the perch is to make it impossible to use the nest box(es) at night. With some houses it is possible to block off the nest boxes. If not, just put something in there before they go to bed to block it off - a small cardboard box, a flowerpot, anything that fits and they can't move out of the way. Just remove it 1st thing in the morning when you let them out. Then the choice is down to them: perch, or.... um... perch! Hopefully they'll get the idea after a few days. I'd keep blocking off the nest boxes for a few nights after this just to be sure...

Best of luck - hope you get a good nights sleep and don't worry too much Wink

Any more questions, you know where we all are!

Aussie Chick · Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 10:18 pm Post subject:

Does it matter if they don't perch?

Knobby · Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 7:42 am Post subject:

Buff Orps rarely perch....they cant get there fat asses up "there!....as long as they aint under the "Poo drop zone" theyre Ok !!! Very Happy

Lisa · Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 9:09 am Post subject:

My new hybrids didn't perch for over a week. For that time I thought their bums were rather mucky from sitting on the floor on the straw in their own poo overnight Confused

Since they've been perching they look nice and clean now.

If you look at different housing perches can be at quite a variety of heights. I think if I had a bird that didn't perch I might make it a really low perch to see if that would help instead. But that's just me...

nigel · Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 9:21 am Post subject:

I prefer mine to perch, as like Lisa it keeps them from roosting in the dirty litter. Until mine were coming up to POL I kept the nest boxes closed. I didn't want them to get into bad habits. They started roosting on the bars on their own, I think its instinct and that they learn from each other. Once the nest boxes were open I did get a couple of attempts to roost in there, but I just moved them to the roosting bars, they soon got into the habit.