Are my perches too high?

[FlackShackChicks]

We have a small coop with limited options for perch and nesting box placement. Pictured is a south facing window and the perches are four feet off the ground. The problem is that my chickens aren’t using the ladder or perches even though they’re a few months old. They still sleep on the ground. Will it just take time? Or should I lower the perches to just above the nesting boxes? (Also, they aren’t laying yet so their boxes aren’t “nested” yet) They just seem uncomfortable in their new coop. It’s only the second day but I thought they’d be thrilled to be perching. They do free range the entire day, so maybe they’re too used to resting on the ground under the trees? Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[TheLittleFarm18]

Beautiful coop! I have no Nswer for you, although I know my birds can get way high . I'm sure someone with more experience will be along to help in a bit. Again BEAUTIFUL COOP

 

[Farm life101]

Beautiful chicken coop! My girls can jump/fly up to my 5 foot tall perch from the ground so you good! I would recommend adding in a lower level for perching, especially if you have all hens.

 

[KikiLeigh02]

That is a lovely coop! What breed(s) of chickens do you have? You could move them to the roosts a few nights after they've settled, that should help them figure it out.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't know how old a few months is. My brooder-raised chicks typically sleep on the coop floor until they are 10 to 12 weeks old before they start to roost at night. They may play on the roosts during the day but not sleep there at night. I have had some groups start roosting as young as 5 weeks, some take quite a bit longer than 12 weeks, but 10 to 12 is an average.

You just put them in there, it may take a them a while to get comfortable. In your situation I would probably exercise patience, they tend to work these things out on their own. I'd still be interested in how old they are though.

How many do you have and how long is one of those roosts? At just a few weeks old mine can fly up to my 5' roosts, either to play or if a broody hen tells them to. But they need to be able to spread their wings and fly to do that. I'm wondering if those two roosts are so close together they stop them from flying up? Do you need both of them? Looks like their should be enough room for them to fly based on the window but I'm not sure of the perspective.

Silkies can't fly. If you have Silkies you may need to rework your ladders.

 

[jthornton]

Judging from the second photo there is not enough room for them to fly down without hitting the wall. And possibly too close to the wall I can't tell. Chickens can fly almost vertical on the way up but fly at a 45 or so on the way down and need a few steps to stop.

You should put your location in your profile so it's always there.

JT

 

[PirateGirl]

Judging from the second photo there is not enough room for them to fly down without hitting the wall. And possibly too close to the wall I can't tell. Chickens can fly almost vertical on the way up but fly at a 45 or so on the way down and need a few steps to stop.

You should put your location in your profile so it's always there.

JT

This is what I was going to say. Getting up is easy, but they need enough space in front of the perch as they fly out and down to make a soft landing. I couldn't remember the rule of thumb, but if @jthornton is correct and it's 45 degrees then whatever your perch height is, they need the same distance out in front of the perch as a landing zone on the floor.

As others have mentioned, it definitely takes time until they start roosting. Maybe wait a few weeks and see if they get it figured out before making major modifications.

Your nest boxes are designed in a way that the birds can roost on top of them, so as long as the roosts are higher than the floor of the nest boxes, they should choose to sleep there.

Good luck! Good job on your coop build!

 

[coach723]

You might try adding a roost crosswise, just above and in front of the nest boxes. That would give them a halfway point for getting up and down. My roosts are at that lower level in a U shape around 3 sides with the two 'loft' roosts up higher on the ends. I also have poop boards under them so that the upper birds aren't pooping on the lower birds. Some prefer the lofts, some prefer the lower roosts. I have ladders to go up, but some will just not do ladders. Your coop is narrower, so maybe just two roosts crosswise at the lower level, make them easily removable for ease of cleaning.

 

[FlackShackChicks]

Beautiful chicken coop! My girls can jump/fly up to my 5 foot tall perch from the ground so you good! I would recommend adding in a lower level for perching, especially if you have all hens.

Thank you! Do you mean in front of the nesting boxes? I do plan to add one there. I have all hens.

 

[FlackShackChicks]

You might try adding a roost crosswise, just above and in front of the nest boxes. That would give them a halfway point for getting up and down. My roosts are at that lower level in a U shape around 3 sides with the two 'loft' roosts up higher on the ends. I also have poop boards under them so that the upper birds aren't pooping on the lower birds. Some prefer the lofts, some prefer the lower roosts. I have ladders to go up, but some will just not do ladders. Your coop is narrower, so maybe just two roosts crosswise at the lower level, make them easily removable for ease of cleaning.

Thank you! I like that idea. I could lower them to just above the nesting boxes so they’re below the window. Would you recommend that?