Brahma hens don't roost

[mamachicken1955]

Is it common for Brahma hens not to roost at night? My other birds roost, but these girls prefer to lay together in a dark corner of the coop.

 

[chickenweirdo1]

Thats interesting my brahmas have always loved to roost. Since they were young they always flew into low branches and roosted.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How old are they? What do your roosts look like? Heavier breeds can have troubles reaching higher roosts. They also prefer a wider roost.

 

[aart]

How old are they? What do your roosts look like? Heavier breeds can have troubles reaching higher roosts. They also prefer a wider roost.

Ditto Dat^^^^

 

[mamachicken1955]

They are just over a year old. Not heavy. I have two roosts and both are about 6" off the ground.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How much head room? It is odd for adult birds not to roost. Maybe a photo of the inside of the coop would help.

 

[slantrhymes]

My older Brahma hen tries to roost some nights, but she has trouble reaching the bars. Those heavy bodies make it difficult for them to get off the ground. She actually broke a thick tree branch we were using as a roost bar a few weeks back. She's a big mama.

 

[aart]

They are just over a year old. Not heavy. I have two roosts and both are about 6" off the ground.

How big are the roosts?

I had 2x2 but my brahmas had trouble navigating them, so switched out to 2x4 wide side up...helped a lot.

 

[Jondiesel78]

I have the same thing with my light brahBr hens. The buff Brahma all roost, but the light do not. They usually huddle in the corners under the nesting boxes. I even have ramps built so they can walk up to the roosting poles.