Chickens won't use roosts

[SarahGfa]

Ah, sorry, missed the broody reference before.
Even tho raised together the youngers might not be accepted into main pecking order until they start to lay....so some separate roosts could be good.
No pics yet?

I thought I had pics on my other computer . I will take new pics tomorrow but the coop is dirty and unphotogenic right now
I made separate roosts but they don't like them

 

[rosemarythyme]

I thought I had pics on my other computer . I will take new pics tomorrow but the coop is dirty and unphotogenic right now

No one will be offended to see a dirty coop.

 

[aart]

I will take new pics tomorrow but the coop is dirty and unphotogenic right now

That doesn't matter, we've see it every day
It great to see newly built and 'photogenic' coops....but I'm a realist.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Poop happens. If my coops were spotless it would mean my chickens had been gone a while.

 

[SarahGfa]

Sorry for all the poop...here are pictures

This was a kids bunk bed that I got for free. The top platform only goes about 2/3 of the way across. I put the cardboard nest box up there to try to get the chicks to use the roost right in front of it.
Main roosting bar is on the left, shelf on the right has a 2x4 about 18 inches above the shelf, but they never use it. The chickens walk around on the shelf and use it for their grossest poops in the morning.


This is the roosting bar over the door. The window is on the left and the dominant birds sleep in this corner.

 

[aart]

Sorry for all the poop...here are pictures

I don't see any much poop...nor can I really see the whole coop.
Like where is the poop board/shelf shown in your first sketch?
Is that the pop door under the shelf with nests?
Is shelf with nests an old bunk bed?
Why are the windows covered to the left of the people door?

 

[SarahGfa]

I don't see any much poop...nor can I really see the whole coop.
Like where is the poop board/shelf shown in your first sketch?
Is that the pop door under the shelf with nests?
Is shelf with nests an old bunk bed?
Why are the windows covered to the left of the people door?

Shelf/"poop board" is top right in the first picture. It goes the entire length of the coop (looks like an overhang from the outside).
There is no pop door, only a people door. This was converted from a shed.
There are two blue boxes under the nest bunk and one cinder block for the waterer.
The wall opposite the bunk bed has a full length window. It is like a 3-sided coop.

"Covered windows" do you mean the two brown squares? Those are my homemade "cabinets"... I am using the gap between the 2x4's as storage space, and I made those cabinet doors to keep the dust out. I am not very good with tools

 

[NatJ]

This is the roosting bar over the door. The window is on the left and the dominant birds sleep in this corner.

The window is outside the picture, correct?

"Covered windows" do you mean the two brown squares? Those are my homemade "cabinets"... I am using the gap between the 2x4's as storage space, and I made those cabinet doors to keep the dust out. I am not very good with tools

Like aart, I got confused by your cardboard cabinet doors. Now that you've explained, I think that's a clever idea

 

[aart]

That shed looks like it has great potential, but would take some rework.
Roost over door is way too high, IMO.

Is the area over the nests open or a solid 'shelf'?

Pics show the blue circles, but not the red one.

 

[SarahGfa]

That shed looks like it has great potential, but would take some rework.
Roost over door is way too high, IMO.

Roost over door is the only one they are using. The bunk bed has rails and ladders that can be used as lower roosts, but they won't use them. I feel like people are not understanding my question AT ALL. How do I delete this thread?