Getting my chickens to roost

[Chick2day]

I have just gotten 14 month old chickens. They will not roost. They just sit on the ground. They also lay there eggs on the ground. How can I change this? I’m new to this. Thanks in advance

 

[nuthatched]

What conditions were they kept in before? You may need to set them on the roosts for a few nightd.

 

[Chick2day]

I’m not sure. Apparently they were raised in a crowded area that had no roost

 

[Chick2day]

What conditions were they kept in before? You may need to set them on the roosts for a few nightd.

I’m not sure. Apparently they were raised in a crowded area that had no roost

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome to the forum! Glad you joined!

Do you know their breeds? Are they Silkies or some other breed that can't fly? At 14 months they should not be commercial chickens going into the molt.

How long have you had them? If it is just a day or two then give them some time. What do your roosts look like? I'm mainly interested in how high they are but any other info might help.

What do your nests look like? How big are they and how high are they? Do you have fake eggs in them to show them where to lay? I use golf balls.

Photos showing nests and roosts could be very helpful.

 

[nuthatched]

I’m not sure. Apparently they were raised in a crowded area that had no roost

You're going to have to teach them

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You're going to have to teach them

Yes, when it's just dark go in and pick them up and set them on the roosts. Don't use any light or just use very little like a small flashlight, and turn it off as quickly as possible. If it's dark and they can't see, they'll stay put. They're not silkies, are they?