Roosting Issues

[hcdeshazer]

A little bit of vulnerability here on my part as I thought I had come up with an inexpensive way to create a roosting pole for my girls. It basically entailed buying 2 cinder blocks, running a post through them elevated about 8-12 inches. The girls wouldn’t use it. They would sit up there at times but wouldn’t sleep there. I then hypothesized, while holding one of them, that because they couldn’t grasp the post with their toes like they do my fingers, they wouldn’t use it. So to Home Depot I went to buy a smaller pole. They still don’t use it. Is there an aspect of this roost that makes it unappealing. For the time being, all 7 of them pile onto the trash can that stores their food.

 

[wamtazlady]

That roosting bar is awfully narrow. Chickens do not grip a perch like a parakeet might. They sit on top of where they roost. Try putting a 2 by 4 on your blocks with the wide side up. Also, chickens will roost on the highest place they have available. Your can is higher than the roost. Do you have someplace else besides in the coop where you can put the can? You might also put a board over the can to make a roof that is slanted enough that they can not roost on it.

 

[hcdeshazer]

That roosting bar is awfully narrow. Chickens do not grip a perch like a parakeet might. They sit on top of where they roost. Try putting a 2 by 4 on your blocks with the wide side up. Also, chickens will roost on the highest place they have available. Your can is higher than the roost. Do you have someplace else besides in the coop where you can put the can? You might also put a board over the can to make a roof that is slanted enough that they can not roost on it.

So my original post wasn’t too big, it was too low?

 

[wamtazlady]

Your post is too small and it is also too low unless you can figure out a way that the chickens can not roost on that can. My roosts are only 20 inches above the floor and they are also 2 by 4s.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The bar is very narrow and also pretty low - that trash can lid might be up higher, and chickens want to be up high. For the bar itself, a 2x3, 2x4, thick branch (2" diameter or more) will all work fine. If using wood boards, round off edges with sandpaper to make it more comfy.

 

[hcdeshazer]

I’ll post a pic of what I was using before tomorrow. From what you guys are saying the board was fine, it was just the trash can was the higher object and that’s why they weren’t using it

 

[rosemarythyme]

From what you guys are saying the board was fine,

Your board is also too narrow and the edges aren't smoothed down.

 

[hcdeshazer]

Narrow is surprising to me based on the reaction I was having with the wider board. I’m attaching a picture very similar to what I was using. From the responses I got I just need to sand the corners and removed the higher trash can of this post

 

[rosemarythyme]

Also wondering if maybe it feels unstable because it's just resting in the cinder block instead of being secured to something? So when they jump up on it, does it shift or shake at all?

 

[hcdeshazer]

Also wondering if maybe it feels unstable because it's just resting in the cinder block instead of being secured to something? So when they jump up on it, does it shift or shake at all?

No it’s pretty solid