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[kuntrygirl]

WOW !! Very nice!

 

[2wheelterry]

Nice use of those pallets!

 

[Chickencoop1996]

That's so pretty!

 

[BigZ]

Also just wondering. I now have the chickens outside. However they don't roost on the perches or set in the nesting boxes.
They all just lay by the front door. Is this normal? Will they eventually start filling in? I could have made an empty box if that's
the case. LOL

 

[chickmanna]

Hi - I'm a newbie, but here's my experience so far.

My 6 chicks are about 9-10 weeks right now and only got serious about roosting in the last 4 or 5 weeks, and still only at night. They generally just sit on the floor of the coop during the daytime.

I moved them to the outdoor coop at about 7 weeks old, and I did notice that it took about a week after they left the brooder and went into the new coop before they began to roost, even though they were roosting in the brooder. I think the cooler outdoor temp might have had something to do with it, too. They may have been snuggling down in the shavings to keep warm.

Also I was told not to make nest boxes available until they're needed for laying, so chickens don't use them for sleeping. And make sure roosts are higher than nests, as they will go to the highest spot to roost when they do start roosting.

I've read in many of the posts on BYC that hens tend to use only one or two nest boxes, sharing or crowding in even when additional boxes are available, so I went with two large "community" nest boxes (16 x 32) each with a single door opening so box is fairly dark and cozy inside. The door openings are blocked until they're needed, and hopefully the roosting routine will be well established by then, so no hens decide to sleep in the nest boxes.

Best of luck with your chicks,
Annie

 

[Gardengirl 2011]

Great coop job!!! It took my girls about a week of being in their coop to figure out the roost. Now they're professionals, lol.