Coop question for you Silkie folks...

[WILDaboutCHICKENS]

Howdy! I have almost completed my coop (thanks to many great ideas/photos from BYC), but I do have one quick question for you Silkie people out there...

I know that Silkies are not supposed to fly, but my coop (just for lockup at night) is 4 ft high inside, and I have installed 3 roosts angling upwards until they get to about 2 ft high, where there are 2 nestboxes. Will adult silkies be able to reach the nestboxes jumping from roost to roost (last roost is at entrance of boxes), or would a chicken ladder be the way to go??

Can't post photos just yet since I'm new here, but hope you understand the question!!

Thanks in advance!

 

[aoxa]

You'd be surprised at how little silkies can navigate on roosts. The first one should be pretty low. My roo is the only silkie that roosts.

Can you post pictures? I can't quite understand your setup.

 

[WILDaboutCHICKENS]

Sorry but BYC will not allow me to post photos until I have posted a certain number of times!! And that is ALL I want to do haha! The first roost is practically on the ground, then about 9 inches up and a foot to the right is the next roost, same distance away is the final/third roost which is level to and about and inch away from the 2 nestboxes. Does that help??

 

[Fiddlehead]

I've had silkies for 2 years, and I have only had one Roo that has used a roost, and it wasn't even inside the coop! He uses the outdoor roost in the run. I have seen my silkies jump when having a little tiff about 3 ft in the air, but they aren't confident doing so and I would think won't unless they have to. I guess I would go with a ladder : )

 

[hemet dennis]

just post 5 more times then you can do pic.

so how are you ??

 

[WILDaboutCHICKENS]

Keep the advice comin'!! and I'll try and get up to 10 posts soon so I can show you guys.
So basically it sounds like Silkies are not big fans of roosting at all?? Should the nestboxes be ground level then?? Or will they happily use a ladder going up?? I found a Silkie Breeder's website that recommended putting nestboxes 2 fr off the coop floor... which is what I did??

 

[WILDaboutCHICKENS]

Got my ten posts so here are photos.... Still need to paint it, but any other constructive advice would be appreciated!! It is for 8 silkies ONLY at night.

 

[BooBear]

Silkies are more of a true ground bird, you may find them snuggled in a corner on the floor and laying their eggs on the floor. I doubt they would use the roosts you placed in the coop.
Due to their crests and beards hindering their sight they are not confident about getting up high. Also, even though they can jump they have no flight ability like other breeds due to their feathers. Gently slopping ramps would be better for them to manuever on to get to the boxes.

All that said, I trim my Silkies to wear they can see as they free range with the rest of the flock. Cinnimon, patridge Silkie Rooster, and Prudy, buff Silkie hen are the only 2 that will jump up to a low perch. My other Silkies prefer to snuggle on the ground in their favorite cat box. Prudy does ask for help to get on the perch so she can be next to Cinnimon. I think it is cute.

 

[teach1rusl]

Well - it looks like they could get up there, especially since it's only 24 inches to the nest box. My two silkies do roost, although my roost is only about 20" high. I do have a ramp leading up to it, and I've seen them use the ramp on occasion - but other times they hop up on the dropping board and then onto the roost. My nest box opening is about the same, and they flap/hop up to it (no ramp). I'd give it a shot, although you may have to work with them in training them how to roost (which sounds funny, doesn't it

).

 

[Layla1223]

I have 3 Silkies, 2 of them sleep in the nestboxes or on the edge of them, usually snuggled together. My nestboxes are on the floor. My pop door opens outward and is about 6 inches above their ramp and my other Silkie sleeps ontop of it. I plan on adding a lower roost for her inside the coop though. I think your roosts are low enough but I also think that it depends on each chicken and what they like.