Roosting in corner

[WannaBeFarmDad]

I have nine 12-week old chickens. They all like to cram into the corner of the roosting bar at night. A few even sleep on the poop board at night. Would it help to shorten the roosting bar so the is a 1 foot gap to the wall on each end? It has been really hot lately so they are not huddling for warmth

 

[Tired old Rooster]

Keep it as is. They all start out trying to sleep on top of each other. When older, they will spread out. I started with four the age you have, all on top of each other in a nest. They now spread across the roost.

P.S. They are not huddling for warmth, they are doing it for company/support. Little chooks against the scary old world out there.

 

[Coops Dad]

I had a freestanding roost board that went from a side support on the coop to the top of a post with that end not against a wall or brace. I learned that the middle birds will crown the end bird off the plank; just shufffle-shuffle-shuffle and *thump*. One angry chicken eventually ends up on the ground.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I wouldn't change anything, that's a generous roost for the group and they'll show more appreciation for the space once they get older and more settled.

 

[Gax000]

i currently have several pullets of the same age and they do the same thing. Last week 3-5 of them chose to share the top of a 5 gallon water bucket even though there is over 10 feet of roosting space. Tonight was the first night they all decided the roost was more comfortable than the bucket. Even then they all huddled together on one end of the roost.

 

[WannaBeFarmDad]

Thank you! Appreciate the feedback.