Removable Mini-Roost for Shelf

[Outta Here]

I got a few more chickens than I have roost space, so some of them have been sleeping on the shelf in front of the nest box. Their droppings get smashed into them and the shelf, so I built two portable mini-roosts out of scrap 2x4's that I place on the shelf after I close the nest box for the night. For some reason only known to them, my chickens now fight over these even when there is space on the 8' roost! In the morning, I remove the portable "roosts" and just brush the dried droppings off instead of having to scrape, soak, and scrub.

 

[Callender Girl]

Who understands the minds of chickens?

The fighting over roost space must be parallel to the rule in Chicken World where all six girls will choose to lay in only two of the five provided -- and identical -- nest boxes and sit on top of each other.

 

[Isadora]

Lol, who knows why chickens do the things they do? Thanks for sharing!

 

[Outta Here]

Here's a belated picture of the gang ready for lights out, with the two Bielefelders on the portable roosts in front of the nest boxes. In the morning I removed the little roosts, brush the poops to the floor and now the platform is for nest box access!

 

[aart]

Do they spend 24/7 in there?

 

[Tankueray]

Do they spend 24/7 in there?

It does not appear so: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-favorite-chicken-house-ever.1468454/

Very nice setup.

 

[Outta Here]

It does not appear so: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-favorite-chicken-house-ever.1468454/

Very nice setup.

Oh goodness, no! That would be cruelty--this interior coop is just their roosting and laying room, which opens into a 4'x18' covered run. The door between indoor coop and outdoor covered run is never closed. They only spend a little bit of time in either coop. They free range 12-13 hours a day, from sunrise to after sunset.

 

[Outta Here]

Do they spend 24/7 in there?

Oh goodness, no! That would be cruelty--this interior coop is just their roosting and laying room, which opens into a 4'x18' covered run. The door between indoor coop and outdoor covered run is never closed. They only spend a little bit of time in either coop. They free range 12-13 hours a day, from sunrise to after sunset.

 

[aart]

Oh goodness, no! That would be cruelty--this interior coop is just their roosting and laying room, which opens into a 4'x18' covered run. They only spend a little bit of time in either coop. They they free range 12-13 hours a day, from sunrise to after sunset.

Yes, I see that now from the link shared by @Tankueray .

@Veelee you should link that thread, or make an article to link, under My Coop on your profile.