Need a roost inspection in here.

[tknjk]

I just got around to making a roost for my chicks outside in their run. It's a little over a foot high, and made from a tree branch. It is plenty sturdy for all 7 of my birds, and can be adjusted to be made taller if need be. The question I have is does it need to be taller, or is it tall enough?

 

[@migocontodos~]

It looks to be just about perfect to me. Sine they are smaller they certainly will feel higher up!
I'm not sure how much room you have in the run but the lower the better because the possibility does exist for injuries as they fly off the roost and onto the ground, especially as they get older and if they are heavy breeds.

They'll love the new perch but it might take them a day or two to find and use!

 

[patandchickens]

Looks good in general (cute coop!)

a) how old are they (it is great for chicks, low for typical adult chickens)

b) are they meant to sleep on this or is it just for 'entertainment' during the day (in which case, check them at night to make srue they're not trying to stay out there)

c) if that's 1" chickenwire you might oughta move the roost a leetle bit further away -- depending on the size of your chickens I worry that a raccoon reaching in while they're napping could at *least* yank out tailfeathers, possibly something more lethal

d) if you're somewhere with cold winters, you might consider eventually switching to a larger diameter roost that will not only be comfier ontheir feet but keep their toes more snuggled into their tummy feathers for warmth.

Have fun,

Pat

 

[BayCityBabe]

It looks great. A couple feet high is fine - just a place to get up off the ground. You will be amazed when they all hang out on their roost in blustery weather. My gang has two really old, rickety saw horses in their run. They sat outside, yesterday, while it snowed. I had to remind myself that they are wearing really awesome down coats.

 

[TaLani]

It looks perfect to me. We have an outside roost too [2ft off the ground] that we put under some shade cloth for the summer months & they LOVED it! They looked like a bunch of teenagers hanging out together - it was very funny too see. Even on days when it's cold out they still sit on it. We also have chairs in our run that we used to sit in when it was warm weater & now since it's cold weather we don't go & sit with them so the chairs are now occupied by the chickens. They sit in them, on them and under them.

I will definitely have to clean them good come spring time since they are the ultimate poop masters.

 

[tknjk]

Quote:
a. they are 5 weeks old.

b. It's just for them during the day. Right now they get locked up in the coop at night.

c. I live in the middle of the city I don't have raccoons. The occasional cat or maybe an possum could be possable (not likely) The chicks share a yard with a big protective German Shepard. She loves the chicks, and a drooling English Bulldog he loves them too, so I'm not worried about predators, or at least it's waaaaaaaay on the bottom of my list.

d. I live in West Texas. It has it's cold moments, but for the most part the sun is shining during the day, and it's fairly warm most of the year.

Thanks....

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
I think it looks great for them, then

I live in the middle of the city I don't have raccoons.

Now I don't know about Texas, but in every city I've ever lived in there's been a pretty decent raccoon population. They *thrive* in cities. You don't necessarily see them, not even so much as roadkill as you do in the country, but they've been there in numbers. Possibly it is different where you live, but I'm just sayin'

Have fun,

Pat​

 

[Omran]

You Passed the inspection with very good nots.

Very beautiful coop and nice roost.

omran.

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
I think it looks great for them, then

I live in the middle of the city I don't have raccoons.

Now I don't know about Texas, but in every city I've ever lived in there's been a pretty decent raccoon population. They *thrive* in cities. You don't necessarily see them, not even so much as roadkill as you do in the country, but they've been there in numbers. Possibly it is different where you live, but I'm just sayin'

Have fun,

Pat​

Even I have coons and possums in the middle of the city! Yep, they're around somewheres! Even sewer rats!

Nice job!

 

[tknjk]

I'm not saying it's impossible for their to be a raccoon here in town, but in the 26 years I have been living here I have never seen one in town. I guess I just don't give predation any real thought, because I do live in the middle of town, I have a 6 ft. privacy fence (I know it won't keep out a coon, or possum, etc) It will keep out a dog, or yote etc. I have 2 protective dogs, that don't let anything in the yard without then eating it, or vigerously barking at it for hours. I have motion lights set up so you can't even walk down the alley on the other side of the fence without lighting up my yard. U think I can sleep wella t night knowing that my chicks aren't likely to get picked off by a hungry passerby.

Now watch me eat my words.