Roost too high?

[Heritage Farmstead]

Looking for help with the roost in my hen house.....
I thought it was supposed to be higher than their nesting boxes, so it is up approx. 36-38"s. My ladies are not using it. I'm thinking because it is too high? If I put them to bed at night and put them on the roost - they stay there all night, but otherwise they sleep in the corner on the floor

Appreciate your help!

 

[tonini3059]

Mine are about 40" off of the bottom of the coop and most of them use it. However some do not, such as the younger ones, so it may be too high for them. If your chickens are younger they may not be able to fly up that high. What I plan on doing is making a "ladder" up to the roost so they can make their way up to the roost.

 

[jwchicklady]

I am betting that your chickens are young. Mine preferred the ground until they got older, then they started roosting.

 

[Heritage Farmstead]

Yes, they are young... about 18 wks. so that is good news to hear that it may be the reason. The thought crossed my mind for a 'ladder' but I thought they'd then perch on that instead. I'll give it a bit more time and see what happens. Thank you for your responses!

 

[they'reHISchickens]

I have 3 perches that form a bit of skewed ladder at about 1', 2' and 3 1/2 '
My 5 mature EEs use the lower perches to get to the highest one.
And last night I discovered the 3 week old chicks had bedded down with mama in the main coop and 4 of the 6 were on the HIGH perch! Other 2 were on the 2' perch.
Tonight I checked and 3 were under mama on the platform covering the nest boxes ( they are 3 1/2 ft high); 2 were snuggled among the mature chickens on the highest perch ( think maybe they have integrated?) and after searching and searching and searching, I finally found #6 in the back corner of one of the nest boxes, underneath where mama was sleeping.

 

[patandchickens]

Just go out there after dusk and PUT them onto the roost manually. After just a few days, unless there is some serious problem with your roost location you will find the chickens start to put themselves to bed there and your services will no longer be required

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[PolarBear]

I have 4 hens that use the roost every night, 1 hen that beds down in a corner of the coop, and my "runt hen" and the rooster roost on top of the nesting boxes. I don't mind the top of the nesting boxes, but I hate that 1 roost on the ground. I have a ramp to the roost and the nesting box but she won't go to either. I picked her up and put her on the roost every night for about a week, but I quickly got tired of chicken chasing. I finally said to heck with it. When she wants up there she'll get up there.

 

[wildorchid053]

mine have been using the 3' high roost since they were about 8 weeks.. they can fly.. have you put them on it ? maybe try a lower roost so they can fly up from it to the higher one.

 

[Heritage Farmstead]

I have been putting them on it manually.... that's why the concern, if I put them there every night they stay - but if I do not, they don't get up there on their own. I'm hesitant to add the lower roost as those that may use it to get to the higher one will go there to establish their pecking order - I wanted them all at the same level. Thank you to all for your responses!!