EX-terior Decorating...roost & swing ideas?

[Baumshell28]

So I’ve noticed my coop being a bit cleaner than it should be. I have 12 pullets that are 11 weeks old today (7 Barred Rocks & 5 Cinnamon Queens). I put nest boxes in roughly 3 weeks ago & they literally haven’t been touched...at all! That doesn’t worry me since the girls are still so young. But, I’ve noticed lately that the roosts haven’t really been accumulating any new poop.

Just after dark last night, I went into the run to permanently attach a piece of 1”x2” wood that they like to use (but also knock down every day) to perch in my lil kumquat tree. The only 2 girls I could see were on the ground kind of fussing up at the tree. I shooed them away to place the perch & screw it in. That’s when I realized I had a clump/ball of 10 chickens sleeping right above my head in the tree! I picked up the last 2 and placed them with the flock. If that’s where they choose to sleep, I’m absolutely fine with it. Their run is 100% enclosed, skirted, etc including the tree, so I feel secure about it until/unless something happens.
Here is my concern: the tree is a small citrus and the branches are having a bit of a time supporting the girls. How can I go about making the tree a more secure roosting spot to help it support their weight without its branches giving way? Also, maybe another one or two roosts at “ground level” to use during the day...A-frames? Ladder type leaning against fencing or fence posts? How about a swing somewhere? Do chickens REALLY use those?
I tried to get good angles of the tree and how the branches are bending in the area they’re sleeping in

 

[HappyClucker7]

I can't help you with most of this stuff, but my chickens never used their swing. In fact, they were terrified of it. You could try it out of course, but that was my experience.

 

[Baumshell28]

I’ve had an old wooden antique ladder hanging around my utility room for a few years. I’ve been looking for the perfect spot to use it in the house, but it looks too big & bulky to use as a type of shelf & towel rack in either bathroom...it’s not wide enough for quilts or blankets in any other room. I’ve tried to “UP-cycle” it a million different ways inside the house and was just never able to find the right spot or purpose for it. I’ve moved it out into their run & have it mingling with the branches of their bedtime tree. I know I’ll end up moving it around about a hundred more times, but hopefully it’ll give the chickens a little more roost room, functionality & entertainment of some sort, while giving the neighbors a slightly more appealing view of the chicken coop & run. I’m hoping it says more Shabby-Chic & doesn’t just end up screaming Junk Yard, pahahaha!!

 

[Tre3hugger]

Ladder looks cool. I bet they'll use that. My chickens never used the swing I made them. They do however like this jungle gym I made with some logs.

No screws or fasteners or anything, just gravity. Maybe something like this at the base of the tree? Lean one log in the crotch of the tree and start building off that. Everyone can be off the ground even if they are not top branch.

In regards to fortifying the roost/branch, how far off the ground is it? Looks pretty low. Maybe a 2x4 or a long log buried a couple feet in the ground vertically, with the branch resting on top of it? Could even nail pegs to the 2x4 for even more roosts!

Hope this makes sense. It looks awesome in my head! lol

 

[Baumshell28]

I’m with you...I too, can see some kind of great diy roosting bar tree strategically placed under the actual tree branches to act as a support. I’m great at seeing things in my head...absolute crap at translating those thoughts into tangible objects with the desired outcome, lol!
The branches they’ve chosen to huddle-sleep on begin around 4 & 6 feet high...but as more come to roost for the night, the group moves farther out. Farther out used to be higher up, but the dozen of them together have considerably lowered that height and bowed the thinner distal portion of the branches...?

 

[Tre3hugger]

So 2x4s come in 8 foot lengths. Bury one end 3 feet ni the ground. Now you have a 5 foot roost support beam. Maybe use some kind of a bracket to attach branch to beam.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Or drill a hole through the top of the beam. Wrap some wire around the branch and through the hole.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I love the ladder idea (I too have a vintage wood ladder that I'm sure the chickens would love, but we do actually use it from time to time) as well as the idea of building a "roosting bar tree" around the actual tree itself. Might not get all the birds on it but it'll help take weight off the branches if a few of them use it.

My outside roosts are just tree branches shoved through the chain link fence (the fence is enough to hold them up without any additional fasteners). I do have a small swing as well, but I've only seen chicks using it. Currently have 2 chicks that will hop on and ride on it for a brief bit.

 

[David61]

. My girls like most anything if i show them how to use it or put treats on it. My swing is a piece of 4x4 and rope. 2x4 roost roost and 2x3 roost bar in the run.