Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RebeccaBoyd]

Well, if I get nothing else done today I have to put that 2nd roost back in the coop. On my final egg sweep of the evening yesterday before everyone went to roost I was met with a surprise. Looked in the coop and all 5 Marshmallows were on the roost sitting so proudly. Chiquita was in the tote calling them to her. They were not listening and did not fly down until the big girls came to bed. I will put the 2nd one down a little lower and closer to the back so Chiquita will use it and not have to fight the big girls.

 

[RoyalChick]

I agree. The up and down that @Ponypoor is suggesting will probably cause just as much 'shuffling/fighting as she has now as they jostle for the top spot. I would also suggest something similar to what you have stated, RC.

Maybe across the back (i.e. far wall in pictures) a roost at 2.5 - 3 feet high the whole length of that wall, and then on the side wall (left in pictures) a roost the full length 3 - 3.5 ft high (whatever height you do the lower one, do the other one about 6" - 8" higher).
You could make deep nest boxes 1 story high on one wall, and 2 nest boxes high on the other. (doesn't have to go full length of the walls, maybe a few in that back left corner along each wall) If the 2 story high nest boxes are super deep, they can use that as a 'step/hop' for getting up. And, a log or crate, etc as RC suggested as a hop up, too.

Thank you @RoyalChick for starting this conversation - I was afraid that my thought that the alternating shelf heights was a bad idea was just me.....

@Ponypoor coukd you give us the dimensions of the coop. I know from experience that the cameras distort things a little so to get it properly in my head the dimensions would help.

 

[RoyalChick]

Well, if I get nothing else done today I have to put that 2nd roost back in the coop. On my final egg sweep of the evening yesterday before everyone went to roost I was met with a surprise. Looked in the coop and all 5 Marshmallows were on the roost sitting so proudly. Chiquita was in the tote calling them to her. They were not listening and did not fly down until the big girls came to bed. I will put the 2nd one down a little lower and closer to the back so Chiquita will use it and not have to fight the big girls.

You have one other thing you must do whichbis snap a pic of the little Marshmallows all roosting in a row.
Many of us will melt into a gooey marshmallow mess when we see that picture!

 

[bgmathteach]

Well, if I get nothing else done today I have to put that 2nd roost back in the coop. On my final egg sweep of the evening yesterday before everyone went to roost I was met with a surprise. Looked in the coop and all 5 Marshmallows were on the roost sitting so proudly. Chiquita was in the tote calling them to her. They were not listening and did not fly down until the big girls came to bed. I will put the 2nd one down a little lower and closer to the back so Chiquita will use it and not have to fight the big girls.

I love that they are roosting up on the big girls' roost! Poor Chiquita, sucks to be her, a silkie that can't fly when her 'kids' are little leghorn! Poor girl. I think a low enough roost for her to get up on is a great idea, so they can still be a family for a bit longer....especially at night, when it can still get cold. They are feathering out quickly, but don't seem to be fully feathered yet.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

You have one other thing you must do whichbis snap a pic of the little Marshmallows all roosting in a row.
Many of us will melt into a gooey marshmallow mess when we see that picture!

I did not expect to see that so I was without my camera. To my knowledge last night was the first time they had ever gotten up on the roost. I wish I had my camera though. They were so proud of themselves, had their backs to Chiquita who was in the tote with her head sticking out. She was squawking at them like they were misbehaving teenagers, and they were pretending they could not hear her. That is until the big girls came in the coop, then they flew to their mommy.

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

I love that they are roosting up on the big girls' roost! Poor Chiquita, sucks to be her, a silkie that can't fly when her 'kids' are little leghorn! Poor girl. I think a low enough roost for her to get up on is a great idea, so they can still be a family for a bit longer....especially at night, when it can still get cold. They are feathering out quickly, but don't seem to be fully feathered yet.

Actually, Chiquita can get on that roost, with ease. It is just too crowded for her and the chicks now that I have trained Perdita, Meeko and Ducky to use it. They share with the 2 biggest orp girls, 1 of the cinnamon queens and Goose. Some nights Butter chooses to sleep in there as well. I think I'm going to position the 2nd roost over the tote about a foot above it for the time being. That way it is there if they choose to use it.

 

[BY Bob]

Well, if I get nothing else done today I have to put that 2nd roost back in the coop. On my final egg sweep of the evening yesterday before everyone went to roost I was met with a surprise. Looked in the coop and all 5 Marshmallows were on the roost sitting so proudly. Chiquita was in the tote calling them to her. They were not listening and did not fly down until the big girls came to bed. I will put the 2nd one down a little lower and closer to the back so Chiquita will use it and not have to fight the big girls.

Look at them. They fly so well. Definitely give them a roost. Understand though that they like to be high. They will look to get as high as they can. Hopefully there are no rafters they can reach.

 

[BY Bob]

You have one other thing you must do whichbis snap a pic of the little Marshmallows all roosting in a row.
Many of us will melt into a gooey marshmallow mess when we see that picture!

I know I will.

 

[BY Bob]

I did not expect to see that so I was without my camera. To my knowledge last night was the first time they had ever gotten up on the roost. I wish I had my camera though. They were so proud of themselves, had their backs to Chiquita who was in the tote with her head sticking out. She was squawking at them like they were misbehaving teenagers, and they were pretending they could not hear her. That is until the big girls came in the coop, then they flew to their mommy.

Adorable.

 

[BY Bob]

Actually, Chiquita can get on that roost, with ease. It is just too crowded for her and the chicks now that I have trained Perdita, Meeko and Ducky to use it. They share with the 2 biggest orp girls, 1 of the cinnamon queens and Goose. Some nights Butter chooses to sleep in there as well. I think I'm going to position the 2nd roost over the tote about a foot above it for the time being. That way it is there if they choose to use it.

That sounds perfect.