Savannah... I have 2x4s, 2x2s, 2x6s 2 inch dowel and even one 2x10 for a hen that has crooked toes and a silkie who prefers to get up high, but prefers the wider perch... Well, the silkie has moved her self into the garage with some of the other garage birds, and she perches on a 1x4 board used to make a containment area on the floor to keep the shavings and leaves in... The crooked toe hen has moved herself out to the run roosts and perches on a 2x2 with no problem. A few even use the 2 in dowel... some use the 2x4s... They find what they like and use it. The only reason I have 2x2 roosts at all is because last spring I fixed the original winter run with 3 layers of fencing to keep out predators, and it is covered, with a 2 foot wide wind break all around the top to keep drafts off the birds at night, so they could sleep out there in the heat of summer instead of in the coop itself. and I used 2x2 because they were what I had on hand, and they were easy for one person to put up. Birds LOVED it so much that even though it is winter, they still prefer to sleep there instead of the 4 coops. Only one of the 4 actual coops gets slept in. LOL. SO, I had to plastic and side that run to keep out the cold. One side has these huge for sale/lease signs that you'd see n factory windows making one wall, the other wall is plastic and cardboard, the third wall opens to the big run, and the 4th has the coop. SO... all in all, the birds will be happy with just about anything that they feel safe and comfy in, and will perch on what ever you put in. 2x2 or 2x4...
About the nest boxes... You could add one more, but if they are big enough to fit 2 birds at a time in each box, you'll probably be fine. I have nest boxes everywhere for these silly girls. Some like them, some don't. SOME go out of their way to make me have to get a short handle rake and get them from the far corner of one of the coops. OH, coops are not for sleeping. they are for laying eggs according to my birds... LOL. But, I know all the laying spots they prefer. Only 3 of the 6 actual nest boxes get used... yup... SO, technically I have a 4x8, 4x5, and a 3x4 for nest boxes... yup. LOL
Rusty... I shoveled first when the snow was thin to make sure there was nothing that would get into my snow blower... then the next snows not a problem... Neighbor runs his all over his back yard for paths to get to the rabbits and to the birds, clears paths for his dogs. I think you could clear a nice big area for them to entice them out... throw scratch out on the cleared area and chuck a few birds out of the coop LOL. that's what I ended up doing the last time. Threw Hawkarella out and everyone else then followed with Rod Stewart leading the charge. LOL
About the nest boxes... You could add one more, but if they are big enough to fit 2 birds at a time in each box, you'll probably be fine. I have nest boxes everywhere for these silly girls. Some like them, some don't. SOME go out of their way to make me have to get a short handle rake and get them from the far corner of one of the coops. OH, coops are not for sleeping. they are for laying eggs according to my birds... LOL. But, I know all the laying spots they prefer. Only 3 of the 6 actual nest boxes get used... yup... SO, technically I have a 4x8, 4x5, and a 3x4 for nest boxes... yup. LOL
Rusty... I shoveled first when the snow was thin to make sure there was nothing that would get into my snow blower... then the next snows not a problem... Neighbor runs his all over his back yard for paths to get to the rabbits and to the birds, clears paths for his dogs. I think you could clear a nice big area for them to entice them out... throw scratch out on the cleared area and chuck a few birds out of the coop LOL. that's what I ended up doing the last time. Threw Hawkarella out and everyone else then followed with Rod Stewart leading the charge. LOL
