Landing Zone?

[barred2rock]

In my coop I have perches at roughly 3', 4', and 5 1/2' (had one at over 8' but it's been removed). While the girls don't hesitate to jump from the 4' perch to the floor suddly a couple don't want to jump from the 5 1/2' perch to the floor. And they refuse to use the intermediate perches as a landing zone. They sit up there squacking until they build up enough courage. They actually land softer from the higher perch, but they are called chickens for a reason, I guess. Anyway, yesterday and this morning I found an egg broken under the higher perch. So I was wondering if anyone had ideas how to give them a comfortable & safe landing zone. I just put in a stump at about the spot they land, but unsure if they use it yet. Any suggestions?

 

[barred2rock]

oops, forgot the pic.

The perch I'm referring to is center left. Highest perch at the top has been removed.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

What is the bedding beneath them like... both materiel and depth

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Sometimes they can have trouble stopping once they get to the lower roost and fall right off. You might try giving them a ladder to the medium roost. My chickens have a big, fat tire right in their landing zone about halfway to the floor, and they are afraid even to use that.

 

[barred2rock]

What is the bedding beneath them like... both materiel and depth

Straw about 6" deep. Landing isn't an actual problem. Even from the 8' perch they had no real issue with landing. They're just chicken .

 

[Chipper Chicken]

I'm thinking it's because the lower roost is at a right angle to the upper roost. It's hard to turn sideways midflight and land securely on a narrow branch so they don't like it. Maybe make a sloped ramp that fits snug against the wall/window?