Do silkies roost?

[cluckychick]

Mine do not roost but pile in the corner. I have roost starting at about 8" off the ground and only my polish roo uses it.

 

[krackerhill]

I feel so much better....mine sleep bundled up in a big ball in the corner of the run. I used to pick them up a put them in their coop with all the nice soft hay and shavings and they would immeadiately go right back for the corner.

 

[ttrjpbcz]

We have 15 silkies, and my husband put some tree stumps in their pen along with a big rock that is half undergroud and they do perch on those things, but not on anything branch like...they prefer to huddle in a ball and roll in dirt

 

[Mom 2em All]

My Silkies and ShowGirls do not roost. I have two milkcrates on the floor in the corners, on their sides- and they all smoosh into one of them. A huddle ball. There is a roost about two feet up, then four feet up.

Tonight, I put one of the ShowGirls on the roost just to try and show them what I wanted, and he promptly fluttered down to the floor then buried himself into the pile of Silkies in the milkcrate.

All of my banties which are half their age roost on the four foot high roost.

Since Silkies don't roost, I figure they do not count when it comes to chicken:roost space ratio...therefore, more room for more chickens

 

[Harley's girl]

I have 2 that do and 2 that don't.

 

[SunAngel]

I have two 10 week old Silkies, a 3 month old and an 8 week old and they all roost on the highest rung of the ladder perch, maybe 4 ft off the ground, with a group of other chickens. I've never seen them up in the rafters though. Maybe its a young Silkie thing?

They also go into the coop around 8:15 at night on their own with all of the other chickens. I've never watched how this occurs though, so maybe there is a leader that chases them inside?

 

[jimnjay]

I had to train mine to roost. They would always like to stand on edge of a brick that held the water jug off the ground. I built a little roost that is only a 2X6 with the 6" side up. I just attached it to two 6-8 inch pieces of 2x4 as supports and they step up on the board. I have also had some raised with my Sizzles that do roost and they have followed the others up the ladder and onto the roost. I think they are like other chickens and like to be up but they are inhibited by the range of vision like has been mentioned. Once they are given a roost that is easier to negotiate then they will use it. I do have one hold out and she prefers the corner and I can't budge her. It worries me in winter because she has no one to snuggle with. I did not raise this girl from a chick so I most likely will never change her habit. She does not use a nesting box either.

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi!
My Silkies roost at night. The roosts are only 8" off the ground.

Lisa

 

[Chickfever]

I'll be putting some roosts in their coop today. I'll start with one at 6".....I wonder if they will climb on up if I put a couple just above the one at 6"...... I guess I'll just have to try since some seem to roost and others don't.

 

[BayCityBabe]

Mine roost. I have 3. Two roost on the low roost (2ft. off the ground) with a couple of Polish. The other Silkie manages to get up on a high shelf (4 1/2 ft. off the ground!) with my Andalusian roo. I have given up trying to keep these birds off this shelf.