When will my chickens start roosting?

[Farmgirl1878]

Interesting! My Littles (hatched 15 July 2018) started sleeping on their roost bar inside the brooder cage within a month. Now they are in the coop with the Bigs (hatched 17 April 2018) and will nap on the highest roosts for as long as the Bigs will let them! Most of them still sleep in their brooder, but I don’t think it’ll be long before they get brave enough to sleep with the Bigs!

One suggestion (probably not a issue for you) is to make sure that you can reach the very back of the poop boards to clean them. The highest poop board in our coop is four feet deep. I can reach the very back, but only with the help of the kitty litter scoop!

One Month Old Chicks Move to the Big Coop

• Farmgirl1878
• Aug 18, 2018

Waaaaaay up high!

• Farmgirl1878
• Jun 5, 2018

Looking out the window at the fawn

• Farmgirl1878
• Jun 5, 2018

 

[Farmgirl1878]

Added two more roosts yesterday. One in the run and another in the coop. They all slept on the highest roost coop last night(the one the water is hanging from)View attachment 1544925 View attachment 1544926 View attachment 1544927 View attachment 1544928 View attachment 1544930

Not sure how you’ve attached the roost boards to the wall, but keep in mind your light brahma’s going to be a “Rubenesque” girl!

 

[BrandonVercnocke]

OhBoy, those chickens....SMH.
What is that ledge there, looks wider than the standard wall top?
Is it outside the coop?
Might need to block that off, unless you don't mind and accumulation of poop up there.

I had built to coop as a series of “box’s” that fit together in case I ever have to move it. I went heavy on materials so if it were all one piece it would be a nightmare to move. The roof “box’s” support beams didn’t quite match up with the end of coop beginning of run part in the middle so I installed some plywood to enclose the coop fully....creating this shelf. Right now I don’t mind that they go up there. The future may hold different feelings

 

[BrandonVercnocke]

Not sure how you’ve attached the roost boards to the wall, but keep in mind your light brahma’s going to be a “Rubenesque” girl!

2-3 3 inch construction screws on each side. I think it’s sturdy. I tested it with some hefty force.

 

[Melky]

The only thing i did was give them new levels of roosts and diff. Areas of the coop alot of youngsters don't like roosting close to the big girls

Same here but didn’t have mother hens at time but I started in the brooder teaching them to roost anytime of day and hence mine enjoy roosting. They were graduated in size from 1/2 inch natural branch couple inches off the ground to 5 inches off ground with homemade bar to now their adult roosts. Now Josephina used to try and cover whole bar as a baby and I gently guided her with my finger when I witnessed this to move over for the rest of the girls. She now makes room and they all roost together. A good flock leader makes room for everyone. If not shown early they may just nest together because that’s what they were provided and all they know. You may have to teach. Now that said pick your battles because I don’t know if it truly makes a difference. I will see my girls roosting throughout day, in bad weather, and when nightfall comes.

 

[aart]

Right now I don’t mind that they go up there. The future may hold different feelings

Tacking piece of chicken wire or hardware cloth up there would easily dissuade them.

 

[BrandonVercnocke]

Tacking piece of chicken wire or hardware cloth up there would easily dissuade them.

How did you know I had left over hardware cloth hahah

 

[Mosey2003]

How did you know I had left over hardware cloth hahah

All of us have leftover hardware cloth Because you have a project that calls for like 2 feet of the stuff and they only sell it in like 25' rolls, lmao.

 

[BrandonVercnocke]

All of us have leftover hardware cloth Because you have a project that calls for like 2 feet of the stuff and they only sell it in like 25' rolls, lmao.

As we were building we were running low and didn’t have ideal pieces for what we needed. My husband offered to get more. He said he was going to to buy a little. I told him it doesn’t work like that. He didn’t believe me.


He returned with a 25 foot roll. Telling me what he found out which is what I told him before he left.

 

[Mosey2003]

Hahahaha, exactly! I needed 6' last time. The 10' rolls didn't come in the width I needed. The width I needed only was available in 25'. Naturally. Worked out though, I think I have a new use for the leftover.