Heated Roost

[WindingWater]

I just bought a heated roost to place inside the coop for my two roosters at Tractor Supply. I would like to get some feedback from others on how well this might work. The one online is different than the one I bought. I will try to take a photo of the roost tomorrow to show you what I bought.

I made a small coop for the roosters but they seem to like roosting on top of the coop. I am hoping the heated roost will encourage the roosters to go inside of their coop. What do you think? Also what kind of bedding should I use under the roost?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi @WindingWater Welcome To BYC

I would be interested to see what this is.
Putting your location in your profile is always helpful as well

There may be other reasons why they don't use the coop, I'm not sure a heated bar will make a difference. Not enough space, poor ventilation, rodents and external parasites (lice/mites) are a few reasons they could be sleeping outside. Also it could also depend on the breed they are.

If you have photos of your roosters, coop and roosting bar that would be great.

As for bedding in a coop you can use pine shavings, leaves, pine needles, etc. As long as it's freshened up regularly, poop is scooped up and it's dry you should be good.

 

[Pork Pie]

You could try hanging a flashlight in the coop, just before dusk, and turn it off, once they are in and you have closed the coop. I'm more inclined to go with Wyorp however on her thoughts as to why they may not be using the coop.

 

[rebrascora]

I would be reticent about using a heated roost for a couple of reasons....

If you live in a cold climate, it will stimulate blood flow into the feet at night which may mean that when the birds go outside though the day they become more prone to frostbite from walking around on the frozen ground..... not a problem if you keep them indoors all winter I guess.

It will promote the breeding of external parasites at a time when the climate would naturally be knocking them down, because the cold stops them breeding and even kills them. I would imagine scaley leg mites and roost mites may flourish though the winter instead of diminishing as a result.

Sometimes as humans we perceive a problem where there isn't one and create other problems trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist.

If the coop has no windows then it perhaps gets too dark inside before the light fades outside, resulting in the birds not wanting to do into the dark "cave". Putting windows or a night light in the coop for an hour at dusk may help.
It is totally normal for them to want to roost at the highest point in the coop for two reasons.... lower roosts are potentially more vulnerable to predators and the higher roosts will be marginally warmer since warm air rises.

 

[Manhen]

I would be reticent about using a heated roost for a couple of reasons....


It is totally normal for them to want to roost at the highest point in the coop for two reasons.... lower roosts are potentially more vulnerable to predators and the higher roosts will be marginally warmer since warm air rises.

This is clear in my coop, if I put up a new rafter or such, they watch, and you can see they look from perch to perch inside the coop (mine is large) to find their way up.

Downside is they are not too smart. They can get in such a spot that they can't get down without getting hurt. pshaw. I top all my rafters and beams with turkey netting (cheaper than chicken netting) and that keeps them off. Except for the one bird-brained chicken that has to prove you can't sit up there....

 

[Manhen]

Also, note you don't want them in the rafters, they will cover everything under them with chicken stuff, including each other.