Roosting on top of coop

[JurassicBawk]

My chicken house has a shed roof, meaning one slat that's tall in the front and tapers down in the back. I don't have any current pics right now, but found a construction pic in the files here to show. It's plywood covered with tar paper and leftover asphalt roof tiles from my house, and they sit along the front edge with their toes over the front for balance. I've never had a problem with the roof and their feet, other than when trying to clean the poop off. I did have a big limb fall that I put up there for them to roost on if they felt like it, in case they wanted something other than the edge to sit on.

It looks like yours don't sit at the peak but are more at an angle. If their feet look ok, they're probably ok. If you really wanted to cater to them, you could probably add a limb or roost up there that's at less of an angle. Otherwise I'd think if they weren't comfortable they probably wouldn't go up there.

As far as light and ventilation, that may certainly help. My house has a large always-open (and hardware cloth screened) window that faces south for maximum light, the whole front door is either screen in summer or covered with plexi in winter for more light/vent, multi vents on the side, and their access door is always open. They still prefer the top. I think it's a height thing. Chickens will always try to roost in the highest protected spot they can. The day my dad delivered the house and we turned the chickens loose in the coop to see it, the first thing they did was fly on top and hang out there.

 

[Lilfish]

Is there any supplemental lighting in that coop? Or a window on the side that we can't see in the photo? I see the one small diamond vent in front and looks like one on the side, under where they're standing on the roof?

Without enough ambient light or supplemental light, the chickens may not want to go in because it's too dark. Without enough ventilation, it might feel too stuffy in there so they don't want to go in. Adding some more vents or one large one might help a lot with this.

Thanks! It likely might be too dark for them, but I haven't had any problems with my previous chickens. This new group of 4 really tend to travel together, so when the twin Wyandotte's started going up there, then the other 2 followed. There is another vent on the backside, which only adds additional ventilation, not much light. I'll post pictures of the interior of the coop below.

 

[Lilfish]

 

[Lilfish]

My chicken house has a shed roof, meaning one slat that's tall in the front and tapers down in the back. I don't have any current pics right now, but found a construction pic in the files here to show. It's plywood covered with tar paper and leftover asphalt roof tiles from my house, and they sit along the front edge with their toes over the front for balance. I've never had a problem with the roof and their feet, other than when trying to clean the poop off. I did have a big limb fall that I put up there for them to roost on if they felt like it, in case they wanted something other than the edge to sit on.

It looks like yours don't sit at the peak but are more at an angle. If their feet look ok, they're probably ok. If you really wanted to cater to them, you could probably add a limb or roost up there that's at less of an angle. Otherwise I'd think if they weren't comfortable they probably wouldn't go up there.

As far as light and ventilation, that may certainly help. My house has a large always-open (and hardware cloth screened) window that faces south for maximum light, the whole front door is either screen in summer or covered with plexi in winter for more light/vent, multi vents on the side, and their access door is always open. They still prefer the top. I think it's a height thing. Chickens will always try to roost in the highest protected spot they can. The day my dad delivered the house and we turned the chickens loose in the coop to see it, the first thing they did was fly on top and hang out there.

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Nice set up you have! My girls actually do roost on the top, it appears. When I go out to check on them and lock up the enclosure at night, they are perched at the very top. I have thought about putting a branch along the top for them to roost on rather than the roof. I think it's too soon to see if it's causing them any foot trouble since they have only been going up there for about the past month or so. They previously had been going in the coop, but then they discovered the roof. It definitely is a bummer having to clean off the poop from the previously clean roof. Although I like this coop, my next coop will definitely be designed with more light and space.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

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Your coop needs more windows and ventilation. It's probably too dark and stuffy.

 

[Acre4Me]

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More light and ventilation, as others noted. But the roosts look to be hardly any higher than the chicken door. With the solid sides of your coop, it looks like you should be able to easily fit some higher roosts, which might help.

Thinking about which sides of the coop get the most light, and which is most protected from direct wind, you might be able to add light/ventilation. Could the people door get turned into a wire mesh door (as long as it’s not the side that gets the wind).