Pesky roosting places

[RaineyMiniRanch]

We just added about 30 birds to our flock (doubling size), a few of them are pictured below. We didn't have this problem with the first 30, but the new birds decided that roosting ON TOP of the 18'x21' coop and on top of our house = the best option. The turkeys were especially insistent on the house/carport top. We have a bunch of roosts at varying heights inside the coop. Can't wait to finish the door of the coop so we can just lock them in and let them figure out sleeping arrangements inside! Any way to encourage them to roost IN the coop instead of on top of it or the house?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Bigger windows. In fact, in Texas, an open sided coop may be best.

 

[aart]

Well, install a door <rolleyes>

Double the size of the coop and roosting lengths?
Chickens need a foot per bird...not sure about turkeys.

 

[Mrs. K]

30+ birds is a lot of birds. You really only have two choices, either block off where you don't want them, or lock them where you do.

It is always hard when you can't see the set up, I question the height of your roosts? And possibly the heat inside the coop, not only do you have the climate heat, but that many birds will create a great deal of heat.

Open coops might be a good thing. Not too long ago, a person was remodeling her coop, and she found that they prefered the open side of the coop vs the inside the coop option.

Chickens know more about being chickens, so maybe that is the deal.

Mrs K

 

[RaineyMiniRanch]

Door is in the process of being built. We're slow going. We just finished tacking up the chicken wire to the front, non door sections. Getting a solar powered fan in there next paycheck to cool things down. So far, they fly back in the coop when they are done, so I guess I'm not too concerned if they decide to come back. I'll have to measure the footage of roost space, but we may be about 10 feet short.