Tyre as a roost

[wcroome]

Hi, we recently introduced two new chickens to our flock of 6. Although there isn't any fighting (the odd assertion still occurs) when it comes to bed time the two newbies still seem reluctant (or are being bullied off) the roosting perch.

One night I forgot to open the hatch to the coop and much to my surprise all the chooks were neatly arranged on the large tyre in the run that is used as dust bath. No squabbles.

This got me to thinking. Would a tyre as a roost work. I think rubber as a medium is quite good for their feet (my current roost lbars are wrapped with bicycle inner tube).

I could suspend it horizontally to get the height required. It seems the easy 360 access might help with the jostelling.

I've looked on the Internet and there was a surprising lack of results.

Or do you think any change of roost might reset the sleeping arrangements.

Thanks

 

[aart]

Are you suggesting to hang a tire in your coop, or let them roost in the run?
The jostling(RoostTimeRumble) will happen no matter how you have your roosts.
What does your coop look like, inside and out?

 

[wcroome]

Suggesting hanging tyre horizontally in coop.

Trouble with the RTR is that the two newbies always ends up on the table or going into nesting boxes which mean I have to go out late and pop them on the bars again. With the tyre everyone seemed to go on without issue.

Coop is 3m x 2m currently with a couple tables at back. One contains nesting boxes and the other has the roost bars.

It looks like a shed on the outside with 3m run attached.

 

[aart]

Well, looks like you've got room to hang a tire...and it might be cool.
But I can tell you that part of the problem is your existing roosts are not very functional.
I'd put one long roost along the tables(30cm away from wall) and put the nests on the floor under the table.

 

[wcroome]

That's fair comment. I realise I'm hindsight that the break in the ladder makes it a bit difficult for manoeuvring... But it's what I had to hand and seemed to work for the original 8. Maybe now there's 2 newbies and they are all a bit older there's a bit more faffing and they are less steady on their feet.

I've avoided putting nesting boxes on the floor because it ends to be where the dropping go (well under the roost side mainly) and although we clean out I'd rather them not at same level.

But that might just be paranoia.

Perhaps the main take home is larger roost space and more disparity in heights between roost and nesting box.

 

[aart]

Perhaps the main take home is larger roost space and more disparity in heights between roost and nesting box.

Yeppers.

Think of the table as a poop board(it is already kinda).
How wide are the tables?
Looks like wide enough to protect the nests.

These are 2'(~60cm) wide, roosts is centered and 8"(~20cm) above the boards.

 

[wcroome]

OK interesting. You've got two roosts, how many chooks have you got. I went with the philosophy that they would all want to be together but maybe they would prefer a number of options. Thanks for input.

 

[aart]

OK interesting. You've got two roosts, how many chooks have you got. I went with the philosophy that they would all want to be together but maybe they would prefer a number of options. Thanks for input.

15-20 in winter...up to 30+ during spring and summer from hatching.
They do scrunch together most the time.
Better to have more roost length than you need than not enough.
Figure on about 12"(~25cm) of roost length per bird.

 

[wcroome]

30+!!!! Yes, they would definitely scrunch ha ha. Thanks for advice. I will implement...and maybe the tyre...cause as you said, it might look cool

 

[wcroome]

Half a day of hard graft and I'm there.. Tyre still being considered.

Gonna blow the chooks minds.