New 38" roost & drop board...

[Ted Brown]

I added 4 Barred Rock August 6th and 3 more September 9th. They use the roasts during the day but have been excluded at night.

The 7 have bonded and have been clustering on top of the nest box during the night.

Yesterday I added a 38" by 18" drop board and 38" roost bar; both are extensions of existing but at 90 degrees.

The Rocks used the roost first night - 5 on new bar 2 on original front bar.

 

[sloanbychoice]

I like it!
I had to do something similar because of the lunchroom drama that goes on here.

 

[Ted Brown]

@sloanbychoice tell me about it! Hierarchies are fun, they form and reform, everybody gets a piece of s**t.

 

[3KillerBs]

Smart of you to, if I understood correctly, put the new roosting setup in the space they'd already chosen.

 

[Ted Brown]

Smart of you to, if I understood correctly, put the new roosting setup in the space they'd already chosen.

Correct, we just think we rule the roost.

 

[Mrs. K]

If you are in Canada - I am assuming that you have serious winter. I would not like the roofs that close to their heads, or their bodies that close to the wall. Moisture will collect there.

If it works well for you and them, no big deal. But if you start getting a lot of moisture in the coop, or frostbite, you might move the roost away from the ceiling and walls. People seem to tend to line up the roosts with the wall, but the hypotenuse is longer than either leg of the triangle, and would pull them out away from the wall and ceiling.

Just my two cents. Do note: I have mine set up this way, and I have the rooster that gets as close as possible to the wall???? Go figure.

Mrs K

 

[Ted Brown]

@Mrs. K I am in Canada.

This will be my 4th winter, I did have one winter with a build up of frost I adjusted ventilation to fix.

I have a Woods 10' by 16' coop and 24 hour access to 400 sq ft of covered run.

I appreciate your input.

 

[Mrs. K]

ok, good, just mentioning it.

 

[Ted Brown]

This evening the 7 Rocks are on 38" 2"x 2" roost bar with room to spare both sides. 3 are facing front, 4 back; 18" wide drop board catches both sides.

Rocks are 4 & 5 months old.

 

[Ted Brown]

Relocating chickens on the roosts?

While the Rocks have continued to use the new roost I had one pullet that would end up on the drop board each night. I started going in after dark and relocating her to the middle of the main set of roost bars. On the last two nights when I went into check I now find her mingled in with the rest of the Rock group, I will continue to check.

However, the new roost is clearly too small (38", 7 birds) and at less than six months old it will become even smaller as they grow. I am trying to decide on my next step.

I have three 10' roosts in the main area. I have a total of 18 birds so lots of empty space. Ideally I would like to relocate the 7 Rocks to the main area. I am thinking that I will now start to relocate all 7 each night in hopes of convincing them that to abandon the new roost.

What are my chances of success and does anyone have any advice on how to proceed. I have thought to remove the new roost and drop board and bar access to that area.

Thanks!