Suspended chicken coop- why not?

[enrgizerbunny]

Are they sleeping in the nests?
Are they laying yet?

Sleeping, yes. Laying, no. I put some pieces of vinyl up to keep them out this evening. They sleep huddled together.

 

[aart]

Quote: They need to be 'trained' to sleep on the roost.....going to be hard to do in that tiny coop.

 

[enrgizerbunny]

They need to be 'trained' to sleep on the roost.....going to be hard to do in that tiny coop.

how would go about"training" them? Physically place them? For the water I held one bird under the nipple, pushed it until water came out on its head and they've been drinking from them since then.

 

[User395221]

Physically place them?

Yes, put them up there. I tried, but mine just want to sleep on the floor. I gave up.

 

[enrgizerbunny]

Oh I cannot wait to build a new coop. Life will be so much easier.

 

[aart]

Quote: Yep....but I really think a piece of 2x4 wide side up would be better than that branch...more stable for birds feet, the more likely they'll use it.

 

[enrgizerbunny]

Yep....but I really think a piece of 2x4 wide side up would be better than that branch...more stable for birds feet, the more likely they'll use it.

The branch doesn't move. Many mixed opinions on this, but I went with the branch because it's round. Ideal shape around probably be a rounded triangle like it is for our hands.

 

[enola]

How big is the branch? Do their ties wrap around the branch?

If the branch is not thick enough, they will have problems balancing on it.

 

[enrgizerbunny]

How big is the branch? Do their ties wrap around the branch?

If the branch is not thick enough, they will have problems balancing on it.

About 2"at one end, about 1.5"at the other.

 

[enola]

You need a stouter branch than that. If they can wrap their toes all the way around the branch, they are not going to be comfortable roosting on it. If they are not comfortable on yheir roost, they are going to continue sleeping and pooping in the nests.