Input please - roosting bars

[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.

Good call on the nesting box under the roost considering the space I have to work with
I would not have considered this thank you

 

[member 615286]

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.

Thank you! I reconstructed with everyone’s shared insights
Nesting box will be lower and under the roost which I’ve moved away from the wall. Very helpful thanks so much !

 

[aart]

Thank you! I reconstructed with everyone’s shared insights
Nesting box will be lower and under the roost which I’ve moved away from the wall. Very helpful thanks so much !

Awesome!
Do they like it?
Pics?

 

[member 615286]

Awesome!
Do they like it?
Pics?

Yes!! So much better

 

[member 615286]

Awesome!
Do they like it?
Pics?

I’ll take photos tomorrow

 

[member 615286]

Awesome!
Do they like it?
Pics?

Floor is 26”x4’
Roost is 24” across, tho it looks oddly distorted and shorter in the photo.
I raised the coop vertically a few feet (the refurbished dresser coop now sits on a salvaged coffee table, I was thinking this might be better for the standard breed..? the coop having been built for bantams was ground level).

Welsummer has some challenge jumping up there and
I’ve watched them pushing eachother off the roost trying to get under the other…this is normal behavior yes?

I did not anticipate acquiring two young standard breed birds dead of winter in Colorado so have been trying to make this work with what I have…
Any additional thoughts ?
Thank you for the help

 

[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.

They appear stressed out trying to settle in their coop. Chirping a lot and stretching their necks up, seemingly wanting to get higher.
I moved the entire coop onto a table. The roost is about 4 ft off the ground.
I read there is supposed to be 18” above their heads (this set up does not provide this).
Any further thoughts on how I can adapt this to work for the two standards?

I also read you’re not supposed to keep fewer than 3 chickens and all the reasons why, makes sense (I ran into the last chicken standing/flock of one issue with my first flock and why these two chicks came home mid winter without enough thought into what they needed (I assumed I’d figure it out as I go)…to give the solo chicken a flock, (but it didn’t work out, now just these two and this coop I’m trying to work with).
I went with 2 because it was all this (bantam sized) coop could house.

I’m wondering if I should scratch it altogether and build another one intended for the larger birds and get a few more…
Any thoughts seeing the current set up?
Thank you

 

[rosemarythyme]

They appear stressed out trying to settle in their coop. Chirping a lot and stretching their necks up, seemingly wanting to get higher.
I moved the entire coop onto a table. The roost is about 4 ft off the ground.
I read there is supposed to be 18” above their heads (this set up does not provide this).
Any further thoughts on how I can adapt this to work for the two standards?

They might be stretching up to peek out the window/vent there, a lot of birds like a view from their roost.

Are they getting on the roost themselves at night? Or do you need to place them there (and if so, do they stay put?)

While birds do like to perch "up high" roosts don't need to be that high, nor would I bother elevating the entire coop just to put them up higher. I don't have anything as high as 4' and mine are fine with it.

 

[aart]

Just leave them be, they'll get used to the new scenario.

 

[member 615286]

They might be stretching up to peek out the window/vent there, a lot of birds like a view from their roost.

Are they getting on the roost themselves at night? Or do you need to place them there (and if so, do they stay put?)

While birds do like to perch "up high" roosts don't need to be that high, nor would I bother elevating the entire coop just to put them up higher. I don't have anything as high as 4' and mine are fine with it.

Thank you! Peeking out the window make sense.
They are going in on their own and up onto the roost after a few nights airlifting them.
The EE jumps on and off it a bunch of times and they battle trying to get under one another with an occasional fall of the roost as a result.

But this all sounds/looks ok?

(I admittedly have no idea what I’m doing if it’s not overly apparent)