Washingtonians

[Breshcandra]

I do about 10" from the wall and then every 20". While I know a lot of people do the leaning ladder style I found that it didn't really work as well for my birds. See it is natural for them to try to roost at the highest point. Therefore MY birds spent too much time/effort arguing over the "best seats in the house". Once I set it up so all roost are on the same level bed time goes much smoother.
This info is simply provided based on my own experiences. One thing that I think all will agree is make sure the roost is higher than the nest boxes.

Opps I guess mine is not up to par. Our roost is level with the nest boxes. But we needed it low enough that the silkies could get on it. And they do.

 

[KMHunter]

Quote: I have found this to be true too. Bedtime went much smoother when they are the same height. But I have tried many configurations of roosts in the coop. So try a few and see what works best for you.

 

[itsren]

Last night when I went to tuck them in, I saw a white flash of an animal run away from the pen......and I'm pretty sure it was the neighbor's cat. The next time I see it near my pen it's getting pellet in the butt. Even MY cats know enough to keep away from the pen....my birds are free range, so the pen is open. I'm pretty sure I know what happened to "Blue" now!

I'm so sorry for your loss. This is what I'm absolutely afraid of. We have 2 stray cats that think they own the neighborhood. Unfortunately, one of my neighbors feeds them and that keeps them around, but much of the day they hang out on our front porch and back yard even though we have never fed or encouraged them to stay. Now that we have chicks, I run outside and shoo them away, but I'm pretty sure they're going to give us a lot of trouble when our chicks are old enough to go outside.

 

[RonB]

A Q? please. How far from the wall should the roost be? Or, what distance have you found to be acceptable for your birds? Thnx

Mine are 10"-12" from the wall. I have different heights. A couple of mine are 4ft off the ground. I think that might be just a little too high. some might disagree but I watch them jump down from that height and they hit the floor with a thud. can't be good for their feet and legs.
just my opinion

 

[Majombaszo]

I was re-re-repairing the fence yesterday and I threw the doors wide open, took their food and water out of the coop, laid down a trail of mealworms, scratch, food, and (only used in emergency situations) Fruit Loops. The dumb birds stood at the edge of the coop, ate everything they could reach with their necks stretched aaaaaaalll the way out and that was it. They went a full 8 hours without food or water; without leaving the coop.

This isn't my first experience with chickens so I'm well aware of the fact that they are not in the Animal Kingdom's Gifted & Talented class but, seriously, I have the dumbest 5 chickens on the planet! They can't figure out how to use the ramp, I built multi-level platforms and roosting poles in the coop for them and the only time they've been on those platforms or poles is when I put them there - they immediately freak out and get the hell off. I have *ground* chickens. They've no desire to roost, they all sleep in a pile in the corner. The one chicken I was teaching to use the ramp in and out the chicken-sized coop door (the 'smart' one and not Alpha but the leader) just stood on the ramp, facing the open door, let out a giant "BWAA-KAAK" and flew up and into the solid wall above the opening. Repeatedly.

*sigh*

I miss my duck. She was smart.

Those poor chicks got the scare of a lifetime, give them some time to forget the ordeal and they will come out. Instead of feeding them in the coop, scatter it out on the ramp and onto the ground, they will come out and eat it when they are hungry enough.

I lost my youngest EE chick (6 wo) Sunday night. She was our favorite, too. I went out to the coop to "tuck the birds in" and realized I was missing her when I counted. It was already dark, so I couldn't really look for her very well, but I took a flashlight out and poked around in the bushes where they like to hang/hide out. Nothing. Looked yesterday during the day. It's the first time a bird has just disappeared. (I've had them for two months now). Last night when I went to tuck them in, I saw a white flash of an animal run away from the pen......and I'm pretty sure it was the neighbor's cat. The next time I see it near my pen it's getting pellet in the butt. Even MY cats know enough to keep away from the pen....my birds are free range, so the pen is open. I'm pretty sure I know what happened to "Blue" now!

 

[Imp]

Quote:

I read this as 10 feet from the wall. Uh Oh! Rustler's been grabbing Ostriches on his nighttime raids again.

I'm too lazy to build real roosts, so I just have 2x4s lying around the edge of the second story in the coop.

Russ-Somebody bring me coffee, please.

 

[pettec63]

Quote: You don't want to come to my house.
OK!!!! LOL!

 

[Chickielady]

Um yea!! really creepy reminds me of a movie I watched of Medusa and the statue of her had her eyes closed just like this one, then she came alive and scared the livin beep out of me!! Sorry, very good work on the part of the artist, but, yea, I'm not one for statues or heads!

It is kinda creepy, from far away it looks like a woman has died in one of those old steam boxes..........you halfway expect t open the mail box & see boosums !!!!!!!

 

[Chickielady]

These statues & planters (there is a horde of them) are all over the backyard of the house DH's daughter just bought.
She thinks the woman who owned the house prior made them, so I have asked DH to ask his daughter if she can find out who made them.

 

[Chickielady]

OK so the 1st picture is the pullet next to the roo... Pic 2 &3 are a possible roo... Pic 4 & 5 are of the one I think is a roo... Tell me what you think... Hatch Date April 2nd.

Look at their shanks !
Also the width between the nostrils, a cockerel will had a wider width to accomidate his larger comb.
And he will have much thicker shanks.
You should be able to dig into his back feathers now, if not soon, and see pointy hackle feathers emerging that will look alot like porcupine quills at first !