Roost-what would YOU do?

[havi]

I have a BO who has a messed up wing(see #3). Ive been out to the coop at night when theyre roosting, and she is the only one on the ground. Never on the roost. My other 5 hens are all on the roost. Im wondering if its because she cant fly up to the roost(which is about 1 1/2 or 2 ft off the ground) or maybe the other hens wont let her get up there? What should I do? Make a special roost just for her? If so then how high? I want little Nemo to be able to roost like the rest of them.

Extras:
1) Shes not the lowest on the pecking order
2) There is plenty of room for all 6 hens on the roost
3) The best way I can describe it is..act like your doing the funky chicken dance, when your thumbs are in your armpits..thats what hers looks like. Instead of it laying against the side of her body, its folded under.

 

[redoak]

Can you make a ramp so she has access to the roosts with the other hens.

 

[Anny]

Can you add a lower roost near the roost she can use like a step? (or her own roost if she chooses) I have two roost in my coop one high and one low. The high one is a 2x4 and the low one is a round wooden rod. My older girls love the lower one while the little girls like the high one.

 

[Ladysonja]

I would agree, make her a little ramp so she can climb on the lowest roost. You could also make a ramp to go to all the roosts so she has a choice of where she wants to sleep.

 

[havi]

Thanks you guys. Im heading out there now to see what I can fix up for her. Hopefully I can find something so she wont feel left out anymore.

 

[sunnydee]

I tend to agree with everyone. I would make a second lower roost for her making sure it was a wide one so she wouldn't have to do a balancing act and also add a ramp to both of them.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[havi]

Well with it getting dark I had to make her a temp. roost. No lights in the coop, something I hope to change soon. I nailed some 1in branches to a little wooden board and screwed it to the side wall where the roost meets the wall. I should have put one last branch going up b/c she couldnt quit make it to the roost. So I have an old papasian(sp?) stool that I turned up side down and tied a board to it. Just something fast so she wouldnt have to try balancing act on the make shift ramp. When she jumped up on the papasian roost I swear she was smiling!

Of course I will make her something much better tomorrow. I'll make a smaller roost and make the ramp outta something better so she can get to both roost.

 

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

we are doing the same this weekend for my cochin. She just doesnt seem to be able to get up onto the roosts we have. *one in the run and one in the coop*
Both are approx 2ft high and have plenty of room for all 6 to get up and be comfy. But she just cant seem to do it. So a lower on is being added for her fluffy self
anything for the girls

 

[Beekissed]

My hens are all clipped so our roosts are placed like a ladder. Imagine an inverted "V" with poles crossways, every 1 ft., to the top. The top of the "V" is fitted into a corner of the coop. This way juniors and flightless fat hens can climb to their proper place, be it low or high. The rooster and two of his favorites get top rung(three birds wide), the older more experienced hens next rung down(fits about 5 birds) and three even wider, graduated rungs for the teens. Unless they had an injured leg, this is the easiest setup for my pinioned birds.

 

[JessicaGrant]

I was thinking of building a lower roost this weekend. I have one pullet who was injured a while back and still mostly hops on one leg. When I go out to close up the coop at night the 4 new girls are usually on the roost together but Mudgie is on the floor. I know she can't get up that high, but I wonder if she would want to roost if she could get up there. The new girls don't pick on her (I was afraid they would) but she is a little stand-offish with them. Anyway, I will build a new roost, but our coop is pretty tiny so I need to be creative where I put it!