is this normal

[raspeary]

I have 5 buffs and 2 rhode islands. We have two roosting spots in the coop. Every night, I only have 2 or 3 chickens (rarely 4) roosting at night. 4 of them normally just sleep on the ground....just wondering...if it was normal.

I'm not all that concerned becuase they seem to be happy and healthy. They just seem to prefer the floor to the roosts.

 

[possumqueen]

I had a bunch of hens who wouldn't roost, and I think it was because I had to move them into their coop from the brooder before I got the roosts up. They started out on the floor, and they never did get onto the roosts, except once when it rained so hard the floor was under water! When the water went away most of them got right back to sleeping on the floor, although a couple of them stayed on the roost.

 

[raspeary]

i feel better knowing that mine aren't the only ones.

Same thing, the roosts weren't up when we moved them to the brooder

 

[fordmommy]

Some roost and some don't. I have one girl who sleeps under the chickens roosts at night and sometimes she gets pooped on. I have tried to get her to move onto a roost or some place else. If've even moved her in the middle of the night. But she insists on sleeping on THAT spot.

Guess she likes to be pooped on.

 

[BarnSweet]

Quote:
How wide are the roosts and how high are they off the ground?

Chickens "supposedly" need a foot each of roost space, once they're full grown.

I made a mistake on mine and put two of the roosts lower and too close to the upper one (used an old sawhorse). Nine of mine (~19 weeks old) roost on the taller 4' long 2x4. The other three are sol until I put extensions on the ends. They usually are on a nest box (covered w/pine shavings). Sometimes I see them on the lower roost.

 

[BarnSweet]

Quote:
Sounds like she has low self esteem; best get her some therapy

.

Maybe you should get her a poopbrella.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

My little 'grey poupon' does the same thing, I pick her up and put her on the roost after dark...