chicken roost/nesting

[stephen.williams]

The area where I have my nesting boxes is only about 1 meter (3-4 ft) in height.
1)Is it ok to have nesting boxes on the ground and place roost above in an area lacking height or
2) is it ok to just have the roost outside under cover or
3) are chickens happy just to roost on the ground. It is safe and warm( It never gets below 10 celcius) and there is lots of straw.

 

[estpr13]

I lock my chickens in a coop at night but sometimes they don't show up when I have to leave and spend the night outdoors. I have lost several chickens to preditors and nearly all have been roosting on the ground. The ones roosting on elevated structures have survived.

Nests for non broody hens could be anywhere but are more convienent for you elevated. The harder for a preditor to access the more eggs you will get.

Broody hens may stay on a nest, elevated or not, even if they know a preditor is after them so as to protect their investment. They should be put in an isolated pen.

I would provide elevated roosts higher than a dingo could jump so as to give the chickens a chance to wake up and fly or run away.

 

[stephen.williams]

Do you just ahve flat roosts or more like a perch?

 

[estpr13]

Actually both, I have a 1" x 4" board (25mm x 104MM)and a 2" x 2" roost all the same height inside my coop. The girls seem to like the board better. If all you have is a roost, at night they will stand up from time to time to give their breast bone a rest. On the board they can lie on their sides a bit.