Roost

[chickensforkids]

We moved our 6 week old chickens into the coop for the first time last night. We have a roost with a shelf underneath to catch the droppings. Right now we have it covered in leftover laminate from a counter top. It appears to be to slippery, will they get used to it, or do we need to put something else down? If something else should be used do you have any suggestions for easy clean up?

Also, at what point with the chickens start to put themselves on the roost at night? When my husband went to check on them tonight they were all snuggled up on the floor.

 

[PapaChaz]

We moved our 6 week old chickens into the coop for the first time last night. We have a roost with a shelf underneath to catch the droppings. Right now we have it covered in leftover laminate from a counter top. It appears to be to slippery, will they get used to it, or do we need to put something else down? If something else should be used do you have any suggestions for easy clean up?

Also, at what point with the chickens start to put themselves on the roost at night? When my husband went to check on them tonight they were all snuggled up on the floor.

couple of things

first - how high is the roost, how big is the coop? at that age, they may not be able to fly up yet. If the coop isn't big enough to allow them safe flight down you'll need to build some ramps for them to get up and down. They'll eventually get to the point they want to roost as high as they can.



on the right you see my roosts and poop tray. This was when it was just built, of course it didn't stay that clean looking for long, once the poop factories got used to going up there, LOL I put a rim around the poop board and made it a tray. It's full of sand and sweet pdz. dries the poo quickly so no smell. A kitty litter scoop and a small bucket twice a week and it's easy peasy to keep clean