roosting??

[indianawelsumm]

I have Welsummers and they are around 5 months old they still huddle on the floor at night instead of flying up to the roost I have in the coop. Should I build a walk board for them to get up to the roost or will they start flying up when they are ready??

 

[citychickx6]

A ladder ramp can't hurt.
Sometimes they need a little help to figure things out. At 5 months they should be using the roost.
How high is the roost?
Welsummers are a large bird. Perhaps it is hard to get to an get down from?

 

[indianawelsumm]

it is about five foot high. I will build a ladder for them. Didnt want a ladder type as then some of the roosts would be lower than the nest boxes

 

[indianawelsumm]

well I built a ramp/ladder for them and they still haven't started using the roost. So I have started going in every night after dark and placing them on the roost. Is this the proper way to teach them were they sleep???

 

[citychickx6]

I had to do that with some of mine as well.
Not sure why they do not want to use the roosts.
What is the roost made of?
How big is the roost? Most people use a 2x4 with the 4 inch side up so they can sit on their feet.

 

[indianawelsumm]

I went to the woods and cut down some nice straight trees and used them for the roost istead of buying 2x4's. They are big enough around that when they squat down on the roost there feat are totaly covered by feathers so I asumed that they would be comfortable and more natural for the birds