Chickens won't use roosts

[SarahGfa]

If some are getting pushed off, go out every night and put them on the roost.

I will try putting them up. They might not remember that there are other roosts, lol.

 

[West Bend]

I can't remove the one over the door. Distance between poop board and third roost is 18 inches. What do you mean by "L shaped"?

L shaped as in it would wrap around the corner on 2 walls. I think it would be a good idea to put a poop board above the nest boxes for that roost bar with the ladder to the board instead of the roost bar. Why do you like the roost bar above the door? Because it is their favorite or ? Might get pooped on coming through the door at night. Good luck.

 

[aart]

here is a bird's eye view of the coop.

Would really help to see some pics of the roosts, so we can see the heights.

There are three "mini-flocks" of 3-5 birds.

How old are all these birds, in weeks?
How many of each age group?
How long have they all lived together?

 

[SarahGfa]

L shaped as in it would wrap around the corner on 2 walls. I think it would be a good idea to put a poop board above the nest boxes for that roost bar with the ladder to the board instead of the roost bar. Why do you like the roost bar above the door? Because it is their favorite or ? Might get pooped on coming through the door at night. Good luck.

It is a converted storage shed. I don't really like it that much. The roost bar over the door was a built-in shelf, with the plywood removed.

Would really help to see some pics of the roosts, so we can see the heights.

How old are all these birds, in weeks?
How many of each age group?
How long have they all lived together?

I will take pictures later.
Group 1 is 3-4 years old. Group 2 is 5 months old. Group 3 is 8 weeks old. Everyone hatched and grew up together but this is a new coop. They were in a barn before and spread out on the rafters to sleep. This might sound weird, but I think they feel safer if there is empty space all the way to the ground.

 

[aart]

I will take pictures later.
Group 1 is 3-4 years old. Group 2 is 5 months old. Group 3 is 8 weeks old. Everyone hatched and grew up together but this is a new coop. They were in a barn before and spread out on the rafters to sleep. This might sound weird, but I think they feel safer if there is empty space all the way to the ground.

How long had they all been integrated before the new coop?

Still want to see the coop pics with dimensions.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Personally, I think 6' up is to high. How much landing room do they have when getting down? I know mine need at least 1' horizontal for every foot vertical.

Pics would definitely help.

 

[RojoMarz]

Personally, I think 6' up is to high. How much landing room do they have when getting down? I know mine need at least 1' horizontal for every foot vertical.

Pics would definitely help.

I agree...not sure my Light Brahama's would be able to get 6 ft off the ground w/o a little help.

I think it would be helpful to know which 'group' is being excluded.

 

[SarahGfa]

How long had they all been integrated before the new coop?

Still want to see the coop pics with dimensions.

They were literally integrated as eggs. Broody hens raised all the younger ones. Dimensions 8'L x 14'W. About 8' tall I think.

 

[aart]

They were literally integrated as eggs. Broody hens raised all the younger ones.

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?

 

[SarahGfa]

I agree...not sure my Light Brahama's would be able to get 6 ft off the ground w/o a little help.

I think it would be helpful to know which 'group' is being excluded.

They are leghorns and bantams and some mixed game breeds. They fly better than brahmas.

High roost is for safety, just in case I get in an accident and am not home in time to close the door. This way they are too high for most predators. I am thinking about making the pop door 6' off the ground for the next coop, so they have to fly threw a hole to get in.

The 8 week old chicks get pushed off the roost by the older birds. The broody hens used to protect them, but not anymore. Chicks will stay on roost overnight if I put them up after the older hens are asleep.