best way to check if they are using the roost bar

[richje100]

as the title says, im not sure if they are using the roost bar.
uts about 4.5ft high & the nest boxes are approx 2ft high. im sure they are getting on top of the nest box as its dusty & a little bit "poohy" at times. they could easily rech the bar by jumping off the nest box to the shelf & walking along it to the middle of the shed to the bar.

 

[Eggs4Sale]

You could try putting flour along the roost bar, enough to make a thin long hill. You'll see obvious flour loss if they've been on it. They seem to move around a bit to get comfortable, especially if more jump up near them.

 

[will hunt for food]

Just peek at em after dark.....

 

[Eggs4Sale]

Well, yeah, there's THAT, too! But that kind of takes the forensic fun out of it. Now I'm going to have my second cup of coffee and hope common sense returns to me.

 

[richje100]

i was thinking about peeping on them but the allotment is about 3mins drive & down a lane. good idea with the flour tho

 

[Eggs4Sale]

Vindication!

 

[richje100]

they dont seem to be using the bar. i couldnt get any flour so put a few strips of the shredded paper onto. they were still on the bar this morning.
i think ive designed the shed akwardly. ill try & get a pic of the inside to see if i should move the bar.
i dont think they can get on top of the nest boxes easily.
ill sketch a layout of the sheed & post it

 

[richje100]

heres a simple sketch.
the ledg running alongside the inside i have the bar resting (nailed) ontop for support.
im think about putting a small table/stool nere to see if they will work out to jump from that onto the bar.
i left the approx 5inch ledge as i though they wouldve gotten on top & then onto the ledg then the bar but i dont think they ar edoing that. the top of the nest box roof is dirty so im thinking ther are just going onto that & cant be bothered to go any further.

if anyone has any ideas to improve please please let me know. ill try & get a proper pic tomorrow

 

[AmyRey]

I'm giggling at your drawing.

Your "roost set up" looks a lot like mine.

Where is the poop in the mornings? I can certainly tell where mine have been sleeping above.

 

[Eggs4Sale]

We have too many hens for too little roost, so some of them do sleep sitting on the roof of the nest boxes, some are in the nest boxes, some are next to the coop perched on the top edge of a piece of plywood that is a coop wall in winter. The ones that DO perch on the roost jump from the nest box roof, which is all of two feet away, but they act like it's 10 feet away!

Maybe you're roost is too far away, or too high. Do you have heavy breeds, or are they young?

BTW, for a roost, we're using a wooden ladder that we made out of those round tree stake poles for cub scouts. More can fit on in a smaller area.

One thing you might try is putting a roost perpendicular to that one, and have it at half the height. Then it won't be in the way for you to collect eggs, but they can use it to roost or jump to the higher one. How high off the ground IS your roost? And how far is it from the nest boxes?