You've gotten good advice as far as space.
Just wanted to further explain that the reason you DON'T want them in the nests at all right now is nest boxes are for laying eggs in, and mama hens to incubate eggs in. If chickens are allowed to sleep in the nest, it becomes a bad habit - they'll poop in it, and then you get to pick up poop covered eggs daily, or have to clean it out daily.
Re: roosting - your roosts are VERY low, which is a typical flaw in a lot of prefab coops. Roosts should be above the nest boxes to encourage the birds' instinct to use them. They also appear to be too close together, so I'd do some measuring and figure out how they can be reconfigured to give each bird you're keeping 12" of roost space, placed at least 12" from the wall and 14-16" from the next roost.
That said, don't be surprised if the Silkie doesn't roost - she may end up simply sleeping on the floor, or she may very well use one of the low bars.
I never allow birds to sleep in the nests. 5 week olds CAN roost but need to be shown how. Because you don't have adult birds to show them, you can do it by picking them up and placing them on the roost each night at dark, until they learn to stick on them.
Just wanted to further explain that the reason you DON'T want them in the nests at all right now is nest boxes are for laying eggs in, and mama hens to incubate eggs in. If chickens are allowed to sleep in the nest, it becomes a bad habit - they'll poop in it, and then you get to pick up poop covered eggs daily, or have to clean it out daily.
Re: roosting - your roosts are VERY low, which is a typical flaw in a lot of prefab coops. Roosts should be above the nest boxes to encourage the birds' instinct to use them. They also appear to be too close together, so I'd do some measuring and figure out how they can be reconfigured to give each bird you're keeping 12" of roost space, placed at least 12" from the wall and 14-16" from the next roost.
That said, don't be surprised if the Silkie doesn't roost - she may end up simply sleeping on the floor, or she may very well use one of the low bars.
I never allow birds to sleep in the nests. 5 week olds CAN roost but need to be shown how. Because you don't have adult birds to show them, you can do it by picking them up and placing them on the roost each night at dark, until they learn to stick on them.
