Is this perch too high?

[guyvstewart]

I have my roosts at 4', 5' and 6'. The only one used is the one at 6'. If my coop was taller, I would have a roost even higher. Your chickens will roost as high as they can get. I have seen free range chickens roosting in trees as high as 50'. They go from branch to branch until they get as high as they can.

 

[TimonHens]

We have definitely regretted laughing at the standard pullets clinging to dinky twigs in the crabapple. They inevitably are higher up and more when it is time to go in and would rather have a sleep out.

 

[alinas2010]

They sure love to roost high is what I’m hearing! As long as they can get down okay without getting hurt I suppose there’s no problem with high roosts. How funny that you’d give them so many options and of course they only use one sounds exactly like a chicken. Thanks for the insight guys!

 

[Kelster65]

I built a poop shelf with roosts at 2 heights and only 2 of my 6 hens use them. They prefer to use my efforts as a stepping stone to roost in the shed/coop rafters. First time they did that, it scared me to death. I thought they had literally flown the coop/run until I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. They were looking down at me saying hi mom look how high we are.

 

[alinas2010]

I built a poop shelf with roosts at 2 heights and only 2 of my 6 hens use them. They prefer to use my efforts as a stepping stone to roost in the shed/coop rafters. First time they did that, it scared me to death. I thought they had literally flown the coop/run until I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. They were looking down at me saying hi mom look how high we are.

They are too funny. This is a recurring theme here! Apparently I didn’t read the fine print and got a shed without rafters for proper roosting. My girls are gonna be upset

 

[aart]

I have my roosts at 4', 5' and 6'. The only one used is the one at 6'. If my coop was taller, I would have a roost even higher. Your chickens will roost as high as they can get. I have seen free range chickens roosting in trees as high as 50'. They go from branch to branch until they get as high as they can.

Just because they will roost as high as they can, doesn't mean they need to.

I built a poop shelf with roosts at 2 heights and only 2 of my 6 hens use them. They prefer to use my efforts as a stepping stone to roost in the shed/coop rafters. First time they did that, it scared me to death. I thought they had literally flown the coop/run until I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. They were looking down at me saying hi mom look how high we are.

Block those rafters off with some mesh, and they will use the poop roosts.

 

[MsFluffybottoms]

In the process of building my girls a mansion out of a shed. Got the poop shelf in and a perch above it, but having second thoughts on height. Should we lower everything? How high do they like to perch? Right now they are sleeping in a prefab coop that doesn’t offer high roosting, and they struggled at first with there not being higher places to roost at night. They constantly flapped up to the top and even tried to sleep outside on top of it. I don’t want them to fall off or try to jump from this height, though.

My roosts are about 3 feet above ground. I also have a ladder that they use to get up and down. I didn’t want them too high up so that in summer they’re not sleeping in the hottest part of the coop. We converted a shed as well, and I love the fact that on bitterly cold days (below 0, were in Colorado) they have the option of spending their day inside. There’s enough space for them and I have a thick layer of straw they can scratch through to keep busy.

 

[alinas2010]

My roosts are about 3 feet above ground. I also have a ladder that they use to get up and down. I didn’t want them too high up so that in summer they’re not sleeping in the hottest part of the coop. We converted a shed as well, and I love the fact that on bitterly cold days (below 0, were in Colorado) they have the option of spending their day inside. There’s enough space for them and I have a thick layer of straw they can scratch through to keep busy.

That’s exactly what I was hoping for in the winter months - plenty of space for them in a warmer area. Great point about them sleeping up where the heat rises to, didn’t even think of that. Will have to add some lower options, don’t know if they’ll utilize them though after reading what others have said Did you do anything to help your coop stay warmer in the winter? Insulation? I probably worry way more than I should about them staying warm, but we’re in Wyoming, so definitely understand the cold winters!

 

[3KillerBs]

Did you do anything to help your coop stay warmer in the winter? Insulation? I probably worry way more than I should about them staying warm, but we’re in Wyoming, so definitely understand the cold winters!

You don't need to keep your chickens warm. Just keep them dry and out of the wind and they'll keep themselves warm.

Generous ventilation to allow moisture to escape is part of keeping them dry.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing-and-care.72010/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

 

[alinas2010]

You don't need to keep your chickens warm. Just keep them dry and out of the wind and they'll keep themselves warm.

Generous ventilation to allow moisture to escape is part of keeping them dry.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing-and-care.72010/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

Thanks! Helpful articles. Told you I worry way too much about it! I saw a part in there about flat roosts, not using the thin side of 2x4s. I’ve heard so many mixed things about that. What’s everyone’s experience with that?