Making coop changes

[Mamachic1967]

That might work. But my trap door is at the end of that roost and would interfere with me opening and closing it. I wanted to put in a small ramp because a few fly to the top of the nesting boxes and they flap so hard that they seem like they don't have enough room to land, but they do. They are over-flying if you know what I mean?

 

[Pork Pie]

Ah, i understand. So separate roost it is then. I agree, chickens are not the most dignified of flyers are they?

 

[Blooie]

I've had nest boxes in three different spots in the coop and they just find the ones they want and use them, no matter which way the nests face. I have 6 (now - before I had 5) nest boxes and 28 chickens, most of which are laying regularly. Still waiting for the Buff Brahmas to get old enough to lay. I haven't found that the direction of the nests makes a bit of difference. They explore, decide, and then lay.

Three of our nests are up and 3 are down at coop floor level. They use them all, uppers and lowers. Personally I hate the lower ones - hard for this old body to get down to pull eggs from them. But it was the only arrangement that would work in our coop.

I'm not sure how you are going to do the roost up higher, but may I make a suggestion? Since you are changing things anyway, can you flip the roost over so that the widest side of the 2x4 is facing up? Chickens seem to do better with a wider surface to roost on rather than curl their feet.

 

[aart]

If I remove the lower nesting boxes then I could put a higher roost on that wall. I wouldn't put one lower. I also want to put in ramps too off to the side. I incuded a pic of my coop. One hen is laying in the row of boxes they like right now. The lower nesting boxes is the box to the right of the screenI also need to put in poop boards. The chicken that landed on the other just wanted on the roost. She was having a hrd time staying put so i grabbed her and put her on the roost and she stayed.

Why are your nests so high?
Again..... roosts should be higher than nests..am surprised they are not roosting(sleeping)in nests.

 

[Mamachic1967]

Well the alterations are complete, 1 row nesting boxes removed, 1 new roost installed and poop boards in. Yay! Let's hope they like it! They were very curious and nosy the whole time I was working, right under my feet they were; silly girls!

I added fresh hay to make it cozier too.

 

[Mamachic1967]

Thank you, the roosts are at this level because of a peaked roof, they are roosting on the roost and flying onto it, so they are happy with that one. The new one I installed today is higher where the roof isn't peaked. It is almost level with the nesting boxes. And no they don't sleep in the nesting boxes.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Your chickens will let you know if they approve, looks good, see how it works, tweak it if needed, that's how we make changes.

 

[Mamachic1967]

Thank you, I agree!

 

[aart]

Thank you, the roosts are at this level because of a peaked roof, they are roosting on the roost and flying onto it, so they are happy with that one. The new one I installed today is higher where the roof isn't peaked. It is almost level with the nesting boxes. And no they don't sleep in the nesting boxes.

Really surprising...hey if it works it works.