I make the trek to the coop @ dusk to spend the time to count, chat, dish out treats and generally check out their well being. There are two eight ft. 2x4s suspended from the rafters. Another roost that has 2x4s angled up to the wall and anchored to the floor with two roost boards about 4 ft long offset down the angle (leaning ladder should give you the visual). There are other 2x4s available that weren't intended to be roosts but have come to be. So ample space for the 20 birds on the roost side of the coop.
Anyway....
Seems like more times that not they are pretty well set in their roost. Since I really don't want to go without a head count. When I get there and start my routine with them they start leaving their roost for several reasons. The littler ones and the ones down the ladder on the pecking order I'm guessing say "Dad's here, time to get my last drink and eats. Guess they feel safer. The adult birds also will leave their roost probably for a little elbow room for hand fed scratch or whatever. I'll hit the light a few times after I've completed all my interactions and here's where my observations begin.
Seems that the chickens don't just zoom back to where they were or they do that "sizing up move" they make before a chicken makes a leap to the roost. As their "choice for roost" progresses there always seems to be one or two on every roost that evokes their status and makes the settling down process miserable. Chasing them off, squabbling..you get the idea.
I was wondering If some have used a partitioning method on their roosts so that the birds that get along would have less interference from others that don't feel that the one arriving has the status for the roost. Sort of like a cubicle. All four roosts are at different heights. I could probably solve this by just using an LED flashlight.....Just within the week got finished running electricity and water 200 feet to the coop, so they're not really used to having the lights come on. Wasn't a problem prior but sure is nice to just pop the lights on and not have to shine a light in my hand for the night time snack. Also have a problem shutting down the coop unless they've all got their spot - don't want to leave with them off the roost. Maybe just shut down and they'll learn they'd better get back to the roost or they'll spend the night on the floor? Any thoughts appreciated.
Anyway....
Seems like more times that not they are pretty well set in their roost. Since I really don't want to go without a head count. When I get there and start my routine with them they start leaving their roost for several reasons. The littler ones and the ones down the ladder on the pecking order I'm guessing say "Dad's here, time to get my last drink and eats. Guess they feel safer. The adult birds also will leave their roost probably for a little elbow room for hand fed scratch or whatever. I'll hit the light a few times after I've completed all my interactions and here's where my observations begin.
Seems that the chickens don't just zoom back to where they were or they do that "sizing up move" they make before a chicken makes a leap to the roost. As their "choice for roost" progresses there always seems to be one or two on every roost that evokes their status and makes the settling down process miserable. Chasing them off, squabbling..you get the idea.
I was wondering If some have used a partitioning method on their roosts so that the birds that get along would have less interference from others that don't feel that the one arriving has the status for the roost. Sort of like a cubicle. All four roosts are at different heights. I could probably solve this by just using an LED flashlight.....Just within the week got finished running electricity and water 200 feet to the coop, so they're not really used to having the lights come on. Wasn't a problem prior but sure is nice to just pop the lights on and not have to shine a light in my hand for the night time snack. Also have a problem shutting down the coop unless they've all got their spot - don't want to leave with them off the roost. Maybe just shut down and they'll learn they'd better get back to the roost or they'll spend the night on the floor? Any thoughts appreciated.
