Silkies sleeping low in the coop and getting pooped on

[BudandBranch]

Help. My two silkies who are now 17 weeks old continue to sleep on the lowest bar in my coop - which is in front of the lowest laying boxes (the bar is really not meant for roosting but more for getting up and into the lower laying boxes - it is quite low to the ground. ) I have to move them EVERY night because they keep getting pooped on. They are sleeping under other birds and their back gets pooped on. gross! I am tired of moving them and really tired of cleaning them up. Anyone have any ideas on how to encourage hens to sleep in a different place?

 

[LadiesAndJane]

So, silkies do not see very well and they do not like to be high up as they do not fly very well either if at all! Mine sleep in a pile on a shelf a bit away from the standard size birds who roost, except for one large Marans who sleeps with the silkies because she was raised with them. You can give them their own little house/shelf a bit away from the roosts, but you will have trouble convincing them to roost higher up. Good luck!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Pics of your coop?

I am wondering if the birds are pooping just in front of the nests....Are hens walking in it just before going in the nest?