Do I need ladders?

[ah89]

We just moved our 4 girls into a 4 x 8 coop last night and naturally they are a little upset with the move. They slept on the floor. I'm wondering if we have our roosts and nesting boxes to high for them and if we should add a chick ladder for both. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[JackE]

It is not uncommon for young pullets to sleep on the floor in a huddle. Eventually, they will move up to use the roosts.

 

[Folly's place]

I have a ladder roost in part of my coop next to the regular roosts, and it helps transition the babies to the idea of roosting, if there aren't adults to show them the way. Mary

 

[aart]

Don't think you have room for a ramp(ladder) to the roost.
They are going to need that room to fly down from roost.
I'd put a perch about 7-8" in front of the nests tho, they need a place to land before entering nest.
You also might need to angle the nest top steeper to keep them from roosting there.

 

[FarmerMac]

We just moved our 4 girls into a 4 x 8 coop last night and naturally they are a little upset with the move. They slept on the floor. I'm wondering if we have our roosts and nesting boxes to high for them and if we should add a chick ladder for both. Any suggestions are appreciated.

How old are your girls? If they are a few weeks old, they won't know how to fly up to that roost. When i have chicks in the brooder, i usually have a low roost about 5 or 6 inches of the floor so they learn to climb on the roost, as they get older, I move the roost higher. If I have a hen with chicks, she will teach them to get on the roost. Like JackE said, it is not uncommon for young chicks to huddle together on the coop floor to sleep.

 

[ah89]

Thanks for your replies. My girls are 6 months old now. This is just their new home.

 

[aart]

Thanks for your replies. My girls are 6 months old now. This is just their new home.

Put one or two of them up there and see what they do.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I can’t tell actual height from the photo but those look reasonable height. I don’t see any food or water in there so they should have room to get up to both the nest and roosts and back down. I don’t know why the nests are so bright but with that board across the front to keep the bedding in they should be able to perch there to get in the nests.

What kind of chickens do you have? Are they Silkies or some others that can’t fly? Do they have so many feathers covering their heads that they can’t see? A normal chicken should have no trouble getting up there but certain exotics might have problems.

How late did you put them in there and how dark was it? Could they see to get to the roost?

Were they roosting before you put them in there? By six months they should be roosting but part of it is a learned behavior. If roosts were not available when their instincts kicked in for them to start roosting they may have bypassed those instincts and learned to not roost. Aart’s suggestion to put some up there after dark might help break them of that habit. Once one starts to roost the rest usually follow pretty quickly. Usually, not always.

 

[ah89]

Thanks aart. I thought about doing that but was afraid they might fall or flip out on me or something like that. I'll try it out and see how it goes.

 

[ah89]

I can’t tell actual height from the photo but those look reasonable height. I don’t see any food or water in there so they should have room to get up to both the nest and roosts and back down. I don’t know why the nests are so bright but with that board across the front to keep the bedding in they should be able to perch there to get in the nests.

They are bright in the picture because I have the door open. We can collect eggs from the outside.

What kind of chickens do you have? Are they Silkies or some others that can’t fly? Do they have so many feathers covering their heads that they can’t see? A normal chicken should have no trouble getting up there but certain exotics might have problems.

Well I'm not sure. I bought them at southern states and was supposed to have 2 leghorns, maran, and I got one mix from a friend(not sure about her either) but they are regular size chickens.

How late did you put them in there and how dark was it? Could they see to get to the roost?

It was dusk so I could see pretty good but I'm not sure how well chickens can see.

Were they roosting before you put them in there? By six months they should be roosting but part of it is a learned behavior. If roosts were not available when their instincts kicked in for them to start roosting they may have bypassed those instincts and learned to not roost. Aart’s suggestion to put some up there after dark might help break them of that habit. Once one starts to roost the rest usually follow pretty quickly. Usually, not always.

They have been roosting. I knew from reading on here they would be upset with the change which is why we moved them at bedtime but I didn't expect them to flip out like they have. They've been fussing all day, they willing have gone back in the coop but are not happy about the move at all. Pacing the fence line, verbally fussing, etc. Which kind of makes me sad because of how much thought we put into this area for them. I was so excited for them to be in their new home my husband worked nothing else the last week till we could get it finished. Now I don't know what to do. Will they get used to it after a bit on their own or is there something I can do to help them adapt? Thanks.