Roost was/is too high

[jmeeter88]

I noticed when I installed my roost that it may have been too high for them. After all, I had only seen them jump about a foot and a half in the air to catch a bug.

So, I moved the roost down from about 3.5 feet to 2 feet. Now they roost on it perfectly. How and when will I know to move it back up? (They prefer being high up right?)

 

[lovemychix]

I've had to move my roost too. I found that if I made a high one with a lower one they get up fine. Like stairs.

 

[LynneP]

You might not need to move it back, but if you want to, be sure they can get down safely. Hens can usually get up to roosts, but you need to prevent injuries on the way down. Bales of hay or straw work or you could build a ramp.

 

[scooter147]

My roost start at 3.5 feet. I have some hens going through heavy molts and have lost a lot of wing feathers and can't get up on the roost. So I took a five gallon bucket turn it upside down and they now go to the bucket and then to the roost. I put the bucket over a concrete block so it won't tip over when they launch theirselves. When the molt is over the bucket goes away.