Question for the BIG girls

[Folly's place]

Flock management: I decided that birds who live here must be able to fly (no Silkies!) and roost without damaging themselves when flying down off the roosts I already have. So, no giant individuals! If I did want SQ Jersey Giants, for example, they would need separate housing, and that's not part of my plan here.
Mary

 

[chickawhat]

I have a HUGE Brahma hen and a big Cochin, too. Lots of foot problems from roosting at "normal" heights. I lowered the roost to 9 inches off the ground. I've had zero problems since then. The Brahma roosts just fine. The Cochin prefers to sleep on the ground, but usually ends up under the roost. That's bad news for an all white, all feather Cochin. I put her up on the roost every night - such a big baby...

do your birds ever try sleeping in the nesting boxes with the perch being low like that?

 

[Aunt Angus]

do your birds ever try sleeping in the nesting boxes with the perch being low like that?

Nope. My nesting boxes are on the ground - also because of the big girls. And they are often occupied by my perpetually broody Silkies, anyway...


I have a walk in coop, and I find that I have lots of unused space above the 2ft mark, and I still find myself having to bend down to gather eggs, clean, etc. I tried ramps, but the big girls didn't like them - esp. the Cochin (again - big baby). Yours might not be so picky.

I'll be converting a big shed into a coop soon. I will probably put higher roosts for my smaller ladies and keep the current ones for my plus size breeds Right now, they are all on the lower roosts. And I may just add storage in that unused space. We'll see....

 

[chickawhat]

I put in a lower perch for my big girls and boys 7in off the ground they are much happier they are only 17wks and already weigh 9.4lbs-10lbs

that picture took me a minute, i thought it was 1 very oddly shape bird

 

[Flockincrazy]

that picture took me a minute, i thought it was 1 very oddly shape bird

No she is standing with my EE bantamsthey are all the same age

 

[21hens-incharge]

Part of the issue for the "full figured" gals is landing space.

My Australorp come off the 24" high roost landing within 3' of it. My 11-12 pound brahmas use a full 8' to land on the floor without crashing.

 

[FastEddy22]

I have a big old Brahma that has never had issues, but because she is getting older, I am going to construct a lower perch this week. Usually, she just waits for me to let them out in the morning. I put my had in front of her and she steps into it and I will lower her to the floor.

 

[aart]

I added ramps for my big girls(lt brahma)...and changed nest perch from a 2x2 to a 2x4.
They did fine after that.

 

[chickawhat]

Part of the issue for the "full figured" gals is landing space.

My Australorp come off the 24" high roost landing within 3' of it. My 11-12 pound brahmas use a full 8' to land on the floor without crashing.

exactly what i’m worried about, i’ll probably just add a lower roost for a big girl option. because we all know, you can design a coop however we want. but they’ll use it however they deem necessary.

 

[Aunt Angus]

...we all know, you can design a coop however we want. but they’ll use it however they deem necessary.

THIS. @WaZelda spilling the TEA!