Chicken roosting behavior

[Stefrrr]

Are my chickens dummies, or is there something undesirable about these roosts? The roosts are under a roof inside the netting-covered run. It’s helpful for shade and keeping them out of the rain, but they don’t seem to care for the (1x2”ish) roosts and just hang out on the ground. This outdoor roost thing was here when we bought the house.

All of these chickens roost at night in their coop just fine On 2x6s narrow side up. Are the roost bars too narrow or thin? Should I pull them off and replace them with something else?

 

[sloanbychoice]

Are my chickens dummies, or is there something undesirable about these roosts? The roosts are under a roof inside the netting-covered run. It’s helpful for shade and keeping them out of the rain, but they don’t seem to care for the (1x2”ish) roosts and just hang out on the ground. This outdoor roost thing was here when we bought the house.

All of these chickens roost at night in their coop just fine On 2x6s narrow side up. Are the roost bars too narrow or thin? Should I pull them off and replace them with something else?
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They probably just want to hang out on the ground and forage.

 

[Stefrrr]

They probably just want to hang out on the ground and forage.

They’re all standing in these photos because they’re running over to see if I have treats, but they’re often just hanging out, lying down on the ground. They do most of their foraging in the rest of the run where there’s still grass.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Have they ever roosted in any set up? Might need to be trained to it.

 

[Stefrrr]

Have they ever roosted in any set up? Might need to be trained to it.

Yes, they all roost in the coop every night. And sometimes they roost in places I wish they wouldn’t!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I guess you could try swapping out one of the roost bars as a test, go for something either rounder or thicker, and see if that appeals to them and encourages them to use it? Though if they're willing to sit on that thin wire, they can't be THAT picky.

 

[Stefrrr]

I guess you could try swapping out one of the roost bars as a test, go for something either rounder or thicker, and see if that appeals to them and encourages them to use it? Though if they're willing to sit on that thin wire, they can't be THAT picky.

That’s a good idea! I’ll try swapping one out.

 

[aart]

All of these chickens roost at night in their coop just fine On 2x6s narrow side up.

Maybe they feel too exposed in the run?

 

[centrarchid]

I am not quite clear on where they are roosting? If my understanding is correct they using the 2 x 6 stringers rather 1 x 2 lats? To my I the lats present a larger surface than that provided by the 2 x 6's making so latter easier to grasp for chicken feet.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The way I read this the OP is talking about them perching during the day, not roosting at night. The way I look at it perching is when they play up on things during the daytime. Roosting is when they sleep up on things at night.

I'm not sure what the problem is. That second photo shows four birds playing up there during daytime.

@Stefrrr can you please help me understand what is troubling you? What do I not understand?