Roost Issues

[LovingMyHens21]

I just got 6 Black Australorpes that came from a farm, they didn’t have actual roosts and slept on top of nesting boxes or wherever in large room. (They’re young, but full grown and are laying already and using nesting boxes.)

This is 3rd day with them and after we wrangle them into coop and push couple of them out of door to let the others in, 3/4 each day aren’t getting up on roost. They try, but it’s a noisy disaster and keep missing! They land on the Windows and side of coop; or most try to fly into the two hens already roosting at edge of roost near door.

The roost is 8 inches off side of coop and not too high, we lowered it 3”’s last night and under 3 feet up. They can easily fly this high, don’t want them to get hurt and make this easier. I’m having to put them on roost right now. Should I let them struggle or put a ladder of some sort up; or do I need to move roost I middle of coop??? Or let the struggle and figure it out?

Thanks,
Jenn in Simpsonville SC

 

[springvalley123]

Hi,
So there's six new birds (already laying), and two established birds? You might want to give them something to step up on to make it easier to get onto the roost. Even though they may be able to fly that high, if they aren't used to landing so precisely as they're not used to using a roost, combined with the dwindling light (assuming it's dusk), that could explain them flying into windows and such. You could also put some of the new birds up onto the roosts, maybe they and some others will get the idea. Assuming you have enough roost space, there should be at least 8 foot assuming you have 8 birds total. Plus they need a little wing space to flutter up onto the roost bars too. Also, 8 inches from the side of the coop sounds pretty tight, my roosts are about 18 inches from the walls. That could make it very difficult to get up on there, especially if they've gotten to this age without using roosts.
good luck!

 

[Percheron chick]

8" is too close to the wall for a plump BA. 3' up means they need 4 1/2' of clear landing space as well. If they've never used roosts at night, it will take them time to get in the groove. They'll get there.

 

[LovingMyHens21]

Thanks, I’ll have my husband move it to the center of coop tomorrow and see if that helps!

 

[LovingMyHens21]

Hi,
So there's six new birds (already laying), and two established birds? You might want to give them something to step up on to make it easier to get onto the roost. Even though they may be able to fly that high, if they aren't used to landing so precisely as they're not used to using a roost, combined with the dwindling light (assuming it's dusk), that could explain them flying into windows and such. You could also put some of the new birds up onto the roosts, maybe they and some others will get the idea. Assuming you have enough roost space, there should be at least 8 foot assuming you have 8 birds total. Plus they need a little wing space to flutter up onto the roost bars too. Also, 8 inches from the side of the coop sounds pretty tight, my roosts are about 18 inches from the walls. That could make it very difficult to get up on there, especially if they've gotten to this age without using roosts.
good luck!

Just total of 6 birds, 2 are roosting just fine and the others are a mess. It’s 6 ft long, so lots of room. I’ll try moving roost to center of coop and see if that helps!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Agree that the roost needs to be further from the wall (minimum 12") and a ladder/ramp may help get the girls get up there on their own. Doesn't need to be anything too fancy, I've used something as simple as a thick sturdy branch set at a diagonal from roost to the ground, and the birds learned to march up that for a couple of days before realizing they could just fly up and down from there.