Anybody tried wrapping their roost bars in rope?

[wavid]

I installed a couple of roosting bars in our coop a couple weeks ago. One I wrapped with rope, and the other I left bare. So far, the girls have completely ignored the new roosting bars. So I don't know which they prefer. Any tips on how to get the chickens to roost where you want them to roost would be greatly appreciated (point me to a thread?)! Haha!!

Video below shows how I did it.

Hi there, you might need to put the girls on the roosts at dusk - night for them to get the hang of them

 

[Crazy Camp]

I think Carolina Coops makes beautiful, well designed coops. But it seems to me that wrapping roosts in hemp would only give poo something to get embedded in. I'd rather have a flat 2x4 that I could scrape clean.

I never have poop on the roosting bars it's all underneath

 

[paintedChix]

Sorry... I’m new and I can’t figure out how to rotate the pictures.

1. Closed coop.
2. Open coop.
3. Roosting bars they don’t use (one wrapped, one not).
4. Where they actually sleep (and lay eggs).

One night, I opened the coop and moved them to the bars to see if they would stay, but the next night, the sweet girls went back to sleeping next to and on the nesting boxes. Did I give up too quickly? Or should I just get used to daily poop removal from the nesting boxes? .

I will watch the wrapped bar for deterioration. I had not realized that could be a thing.
View attachment 2349083View attachment 2349084View attachment 2349085View attachment 2349086

I see this is an older thread & Sushikune was only a member for 4ish months in 2020 + not original poster. I want to point out some things for other s who may find this thread.
**********

I utilize A-frame chick tractors - 4 @ moment w/ 2 more that aren't finished yet - starting in 2019 to now. The wood framed bases are approximately 5'x8' (40 sqare feet - if go w/ coop sizing, can do 10 birds, run sizing - 4 birds). The sides are 50" tall, CP that are strapped together (using repurposed hay string) at the top. They have 2x4" wire over CP as they were intended for older grow outs/adults & it was all i had @ the time. Tarped roofs - 2' open on one end. Mine are slightly different, in that they are open air. There is no "coop" section - it's all open to ground. The roosting bars are under the tarp portion, as are nesting boxes. The ends are not "pretty" triangular doors, but lower 1/2-ish are rectangular cut offs from CP w/ 2x4" wire - hinged to frame base @ bottom w/ 1-1/2" fence staples to open at both ends (water/feed @ open end, nest box @ tarped end). The top triangular portions are wired w/ 2x4" wire. Nesting Boxes- 3 on the ground, 1 plastic Little Giant w/ landing bar @ back of tractor. Area behind nest boxes blocked/protected w/ cardboard or feed sack, replaced as needed.

My observations. 4 full grown chickens is about the max, even if moving daily. I have had up to 5 new laying Marans w/ a roo, they did OK. Worked better when I brought down to 3 hens, 1 roo. Roosts not too high, but even w/ no floor impeding acess to roosts, some struggled to get to roosts w/o a ladder (not enough space for wings/fly up). Just hopped down, no issues. Little Giant nest box @ back became sleep in box while at same height as roosts. Baskets on ground did not. Feed in open end of tractor got wet & molded if not cleaned daily (defeating the use of free feeding feeder). Went back to feeding on the ground.









During a storm, w/ 40-60 mph wind gusts, 2 tractors near pasture fence (in the open) were moved forward or turned around. 2 closer to our house & between 2 trees, were not disturbed. No chickens injured or loose.

I need to replace the bases on the 4 tractors. Treated, out door lumber rotted out. Would like PVC or ? but still may use lumber. Will raise A-frame 2' onto a "wire box" - CP covered with 1/2" HWC. This will allow for roosts at 2' height & plenty of head room for mature chickens. Triangular door, wired in 1/2" HWC - allows access to nest boxes below & roosts on one end & feed/water on other end. Little Giant nest box will be below roosts, as will baskets - 1 per tractor. Protection still same - card board or feed bags & replace as needed.
**********

Sushikune could probably get birds to roost. Lower floor, put roost up on top of what is now a "poopboard". If still sleeping in nest boxes, they can be blocked @ night. They can be moved below floor or turned into a "bump out" w/ nests blocked @ night. Removing one roost open to floor gives more access space & a choice.

 

[Crazy Camp]

I think Carolina Coops makes beautiful, well designed coops. But it seems to me that wrapping roosts in hemp would only give poo something to get embedded in. I'd rather have a flat 2x4 that I could scrape clean.

I never have dirty roosting bars.Your roosting bars shouldn't be covered in chicken poop... If this is happening , they must be standing on Wide planks? 3 and a 1/2 inches plenty wide never dirty.

 

[lizo97]

I never have poop on the roosting bars it's all underneath

I always have one poop on a roosting bar, never fails!