Roost or no roost

[mdibaugh]

I have a small coop aprox. 18 inches off ground. From the floor its aprox 4 ft. high sloping to the rear with 1ft and a half at the back wall. Is it a must for chickens to have a roost. Also my nest boxes are built into the rear of coop wall. It also has a built in run off the front aprox 10 ft long 4 ft high and as wide as the coop aprox 5 ft. Im afraid if i put any roosts in such a small coop they wont have any headroom.

 

[BankerJohn]

the only 3 things a chicken HAS to have is 1) Water, 2) Food and 3) shelter. They don't HAVE to have a roost, but it will make them happy. Happy birds make better pets and provide better egg production.

 

[underground chickenman]

A chicken without a roost is like a cat without a litter box; they won't like it, but they will go somewhere else.

UGCM

 

[BarredBuff]

Quote:
I agree with that to and they will also poop your nests full, it is not fun cleaning them out.

 

[newchicksnducks]

I am assuming the 4' high side of your coop is the opening to the coop, and therefore unable to have the roost in this area which would be my first choice. If you can, put the roost sideways (one end at 4' side,other on 1 1/2' side). Try to place it 4-6" off the floor. The chickens would most likely jump up at the 4' side, but then they could walk down to the other end to fill cozily under the low roofed area. Mine often tight rope walk the roost to find their favorite sleeping place.

 

[Backyard Hencam]

I can't imagine a coop without a roost. Chickens spend half their lives on roosts. It is instinctive! Please try to provide them with a roost!

 

[sookiesmom]

I agree with everyone else. They don't NEED it but will certainly use & love it. My mom put 2 long pieces of wood to roost & walk on in their outdoor run. Its prob 6'x6'x6'. They're always on them outside also, stretching out their legs & wings.

 

[YumaJohnny]

Yes they do need one - My experience is if they don't have one they seem to not want to use the coop (if they are free range) When I first built my coop I thought I had a good roost inside but they decided they liked the top of my daughters playhouse. So I put the roost as high as I could in the coop (almost no head room or so I thought) and now they love getting into the coop and roosting at night.

 

[elmo]

Unless of course you have one of those breeds of chickens that can't fly because of feather mutations...like silkies or frizzles. I've read that some of these birds simply don't like to roost.

 

[sookiesmom]

Quote:
Hmmm I never heard of that. I'm in the run now & my silkie hen is always flying up on the roosts we have in the outdoor pen. They're probably almost 2 feet off the ground. Maybe she doesn't know she's a silkie!!!

. Shhhhhh nobody tell her!!