Input please - roosting bars

[member 615286]

Hi! I have a small coop (10sq ft) I built for bantams using a salvaged dresser and want to use for my EE and welsummer (who are 8 weeks and have been in the coop for a week, sleeping on the shelf).

I added some roosts yesterday and have a few questions but appreciate general thoughts/suggestions as well,
photos attached…

1. They are still sleeping on the shelf, I tried putting them on the roost, they spend a few minutes huddling together on it, looking like they were going to knock eachother off and retreated back to the shelf. (Which led to question 2). Should I keep placing them on the roosts at night or let them do what they want?

2. As they were trying to pile into/under one another last night (it wasn’t cold tho?) I was worried the back/high roost was too close to the back wall and one was going to be pushed/ fall through it and maybe get trapped or injured trying not to, thoughts?

3. General thoughts on placement, heights (lowest one is 9 inches)…if I need the lower one at all? (it is free standing and maybe too much for the little space?), I can move the top as well.

Thank you!

 

[Boppo]

I am a complete newbie. My chickens have not even hatched yet. But it sounds to me like your chickens have a definite opinion about where they want to sleep. If you want to offer them options, they may change their minds in the future. Apparently this happens, so don't give up. And perches seem to let the chickens use the vertical space. But I am just mouthing what I read elsewhere. Somebody knowledgeable will come along any minute and tell you what's what I am sure.

 

[DobieLover]

Hi! I have a small coop (10sq ft) I built for bantams using a salvaged dresser and want to use for my EE and welsummer (who are 8 weeks and have been in the coop for a week, sleeping on the shelf).

I added some roosts yesterday and have a few questions but appreciate general thoughts/suggestions as well,
photos attached…

1. They are still sleeping on the shelf, I tried putting them on the roost, they spend a few minutes huddling together on it, looking like they were going to knock eachother off and retreated back to the shelf. (Which led to question 2). Should I keep placing them on the roosts at night or let them do what they want?

2. As they were trying to pile into/under one another last night (it wasn’t cold tho?) I was worried the back/high roost was too close to the back wall and one was going to be pushed/ fall through it and maybe get trapped or injured trying not to, thoughts?

3. General thoughts on placement, heights (lowest one is 9 inches)…if I need the lower one at all? (it is free standing and maybe too much for the little space?), I can move the top as well.

Thank you!

They are sleeping on the shelf because it's the highest point. Their instincts tell them to room as high as they can to evade predation.
How many and what breed bantams are you housing in there in addition to the 2 LF pullets?
How large is their run and is it completely predator proof?

 

[member 615286]

They are sleeping on the shelf because it's the biggest point. Their instincts tell them to room as high as they can to evade predation.
How many and what breed bantams are you housing in there in addition to the 2 LF pullets?
How large is their run and is it completely predator proof?

Oh sorry!
*Previously* used for bantams; the EE and welsummer will be the only residents, due to limited space.
The run is 90sq feet (pretty predator safe tho I live in the mountains… haven’t run into an issue *yet*).
Should I block off the shelf?
Roost bar attached to it is *slightly* higher (see photo) but maybe not enough (not much room to move it vertically but could some).
I was gonna throw a nesting box up there when they start lying.

Im concerned about the back/high roosting bar too close to the back wall, should they push eachother off it (which I wasn’t anticipating they would be looked like a possibility once they were up there).

They are using the run roosts (also 2x4s)

New to standard breeds, relatively new to chickens… lots to learn as always.
Thank you!

 

[member 615286]

I am a complete newbie. My chickens have not even hatched yet. But it sounds to me like your chickens have a definite opinion about where they want to sleep. If you want to offer them options, they may change their minds in the future. Apparently this happens, so don't give up. And perches seem to let the chickens use the vertical space. But I am just mouthing what I read elsewhere. Somebody knowledgeable will come along any minute and tell you what's what I am sure.

I’d prefer they use the roosting bars for easier cleanup and I plan to see the shelf for nesting. Thanks for sharing your newbie insights!!

 

[aart]

Should I block off the shelf? I was gonna throw a nesting box up there when they start lying.

Some tips about heights:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/

 

[member 615286]

Some tips about heights:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/

Thank you! Having researched general guidelines, I unfortunately don’t have a lot to work with and seeking more insight
Considering the size, shape, where the venting is located relative to the vertical space I have to work with and shelf etc…
Let me know if you have any thoughts on what I’ve constructed so far and how to adjust roosts as I have some space and height to work with but not a lot.
Thanks

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Looks like the pop door is under the shelf, if I'm seeing things correctly. If you add a nest box onto the shelf the birds may roost in the nests, poo on eggs, a real mess.
I don't know how much vertical space you have but assuming there is enough room you could remove the shelf. Keep the existing bar roost the back wall positioned 1 ft away from wall. Put nest box (you only need 1) at ground level under the roost. The top of the nest can be made to extend out and across to make a poop board. Add a 1-2 in front and side lips to contain sand or whatever you use for poop board.

 

[member 615286]

Looks like the pop door is under the shelf, if I'm seeing things correctly. If you add a nest box onto the shelf the birds may roost in the nests, poo on eggs, a real mess.
I don't know how much vertical space you have but assuming there is enough room you could remove the shelf. Keep the existing bar roost the back wall positioned 1 ft away from wall. Put nest box (you only need 1) at ground level under the roost. The top of the nest can be made to extend out and across to make a poop board. Add a 1-2 in front and side lips to contain sand or whatever you use for poop board.

Thank you! I can work on removing the shelf (it was irrelevant for the bantams)
The venting is surely too low as I wasn’t anticipating roosting birds but can block some of it off to reduce draft at roost level.

yes I will move that roosting bar a foot away from the back wall, hoping they don’t get trapped/fall through it and freak out trying to save themselves and hurting themselves tonight…
if one of them pushes the other off (they are roosting on it for the first night rather than the shelf
their behavior looks more like the bantams trying to get under one another it’s a little aggressive and why I’m worried about that gap

Thanks again

 

[rosemarythyme]

Honestly it's fine if they want to sleep on a shelf, but if the roost is closer than 1' from the wall that could explain why they're not using it.

Do not put a nest box up there, nest boxes should sit lower than roosts to discourage chickens from sleeping in them.