A perch in a coop?

[Jstaz]

I have 4 hens and about a 4'x8' coop with two laying boxes. The laying boxes are at one end and the ramp to enter the coop is on the opposite end. The hens tend to huddle near the ramp end and stay there at night, most of the time with one of them just outside the entrance on the ramp "keeping watch" it seems. There is no roost or perch they sit on in the coop itself but there is a roost outside the coop. Should I put a roost inside the coop for them to sleep on or are they fine on the floor like they have been since they were chicks? To add, this set up we have is our first attempt at chickens and we got everything we have from a neighbor.

Still learning,
Joe

 

[yellowchicks]

I have 4 hens and about a 4'x8' coop with two laying boxes. The laying boxes are at one end and the ramp to enter the coop is on the opposite end. The hens tend to huddle near the ramp end and stay there at night, most of the time with one of them just outside the entrance on the ramp "keeping watch" it seems. There is no roost or perch they sit on in the coop itself but there is a roost outside the coop. Should I put a roost inside the coop for them to sleep on or are they fine on the floor like they have been since they were chicks? To add, this set up we have is our first attempt at chickens and we got everything we have from a neighbor.

Still learning,
Joe

Yes, put a 4" wide and at least 4 foot long perch inside, mount it higher than the nest box so the birds can roost at night.

 

[RJSorensen]

Yes, your birds are old enough now to use a roost, the advice given above will take care of the girls hanging out by the door. They will feel better if they can fulfill their natural instinct to set as high as they can. They do so to reduce the danger of ground predators, it is just programed into them. As chicks they are too small and with no mother hen to 'teach' them, they do the only thing they can. Sit on the floor. Make your birds happy and give them a proper place to sleep. If you have large fowl, a 2 x 4 with the wide side for them to roost on is the way to go. Small round roosts are not best for chickens, chickens do not have use of the hind 'claw' to grasp a small round branch. Big branches, three to four inches will work.

Best to you and your birds,

RJ

 

[Jstaz]

Update... Made the roosts and they dont use them. They all stay on the floor at the entrance. Is it because..
A) they have been without a roost in the coop from chicks?
B) there is not enough head room for them to be comfortable on the roost?
C) they need moe time to get used to them?

I have placed the. On the roost myself and they just hop off.

All this being said, they do use the roost in the run but not at night obviously.

 

[Brookliner]

Update... Made the roosts and they dont use them. They all stay on the floor at the entrance. Is it because..
A) they have been without a roost in the coop from chicks?
B) there is not enough head room for them to be comfortable on the roost?
C) they need moe time to get used to them?

I have placed the. On the roost myself and they just hop off.

All this being said, they do use the roost in the run but not at night obviously.

Your roosts look like they are too close to the walls to be comfortable. For large fowl they should be at least 10" away from the wall ... they usually want to roost with their back to the wall looking out ... so they need room for their body and tail. So move your roosts out and continue to put them up on the roost. They should get the idea before too long.

 

[Jstaz]

The roosts are 10" away from the wall. Thank you for the info. I will keep putting them up there.

 

[TheEggCollecter]

Since they are so custom to sleeping on the floor it will take them a little longer to adjust to new sleeping habits but they will come around.