So it's about time to prep for the babes to transfer to the coop with big bertha, our senior Orpington. She has slowly transitioned from sleeping perched on the edge of the dirt bath, to sleeping inside of it (as you can see in the photo). It's now made into her bed since she free roams and baths outside. The other adult girls used to sleep perched on the bar or on top of the nesting boxes (no longer with us). These things are quite high off the ground and while our little ones are flying around a lot in their enclosed pen during the outdoor time, I'm worried about if they will use these areas on their own of if I need to build a ladder to help train them? I'm in Southern California so the weather is always nice enough for the open air coop but I wouldn't want them sleeping in the ground since it's cement underneath and can get cold. I placed a log through their brooder box and they love perching on it (2 have been sleeping on it, the rest still nest in the shavings and cuddle). This is our first time with baby chick integration, sorry if this is a dumb question.
Hi! Yes, I definitely think you should put a ladder leading up to the nesting boxes. If you don't, the chicks might not know how to get up there, and they probably wouldn't be able to fly that high. Also, chickens like sleeping higher above the ground, so it is good that you have a perch in the coop. Hope this helps! Olivia
I would make a ladder perch for them, rather than just a ladder... and I wouldn't put a ladder up to the nest boxes... you don't want the chicks to decide to go in and sleep in the nest boxes, that's a bad habit to break... when they're older, they will be ably to fly up, hop up there just fine... or if they need help then (once they are close to laying), then you can put a ladder to the nest boxes for them... But a short, wide 3 rung ladder roost towards the other side of the kennel would be a good idea to start training them on...
