Type of roost for Orpington's

[NewToFarming]

What type and how high would be best for an Orpington? I just got 2 new girls and they don't seem to like what I currently have and seem to be looking for something else to roost on. I have a roost the length of the coop about 4 feet high off of the ground and I also have to skids leaning against the wall and the highest end would be maybe 2 feet off the ground. They just don't seem happy and keep looking for something to roost on. Is there something better I can do for them?

 

[CityChook]

What is your roost made of? I used a 2x4 with the wide end up so they have lots of surface area to rest their feet and tuck their toes under their downy bellies in the wintertime.

I have Buff Orps and my roost is 3 ft off the ground, which is more like 27 inches in the middle of winter because the deep litter is so deep, but I have noticed that they land with a big THUD from that height, so maybe it's too high at 4 ft? Lots of chickens like to roost in the rafters - VERY HIGH - but orps are big bootie girls and I'd be worried about leg injuries when they jump down. Can your roost be lowered?

Also, when they were young, I had to put them on the roost when they were new to their coop. They didn't really know what it was for, but once they learned, it became their fave place to hang out. And they like to snuggle together in the winter, all squished onto one end.

 

[PunkinPeep]

I have bo's rir's and br's. I built my roosts about 4 feet high. But my girls quickly moved on to the rafters. They come down hard out of those rafters, but i have yet to have an injury or any bumble foot, after about 6 months. They're tough, i guess.

 

[NewToFarming]

I won't lower the one I have because all of my others like it that high but I can put a second lower one up. So you think about 3 feet would be about the best height for them?

Forgot to add....yes, it is a 2x4 with the wide end out so they have more area for their feet but I do have some wider boards laying around. I think they would be about 10 inches wide. Do you think this would be better for them or should I stick with a 2x4?

Thanks!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

My BOs roost up high (8') but have ladders to get up there. However, this is a recent change and they are still awkward about getting up and down. One will occasionally make sounds that she is upset about getting down and I have to show her how the ladder works. My BOs really are the wimpiest about jumping up or down anywhere from heights greater than two feet. All my other birds have no problems. I would say that they do prefer the 2X6 over the 2X4 (and I tried both).

 

[NewToFarming]

LOL...sounds like mine. They get upset when not on the roost, so I put them up there & then they are upset becasue they want back down. They seem happiest to roost on my arm but I can't hold their big butts up forever!

I will try a wider board at about 3 ft and also have some longer ladders for the higher up perches and see which they prefer. These chickens of mine are getting more spoiled as each day goes on!!

 

[harveyhorses]

:My BO have decided ON the coop is the place to be. I think it is the breese. There is about 4 ft of clearance before the 'roof'. They get up in stages, flutter from one roost, about 2 ft high, to the next, which is on a slight angle, about 3 1/2 ft to the top, and then walk on up, I put little ladder slats on it.
No my girls are not spoiled.

Right now this is fine, their pen is a fortress, electric fence chain link, with small woven chicken wire and the roof is a mix of chicken wire, hardware cloth and tarps over both ends. When it gets cold will the go inside? They were staying in this spring. They can stay on the roof and be out of the weather, I can so understand that when the lows are in the 80s. Sigh....
this belongs somewhere else.

 

[NewToFarming]

I think the new Orp girls are settling in. I put them up on the roost and they seemed much more content than the other night. I just hope they can get down OK.