Why does everyone always want the same thing?

[GinaNew York]

After one week in the coop we've had some birds on the bottom roost and some on the top. Last night this is what we found. Poor lonely

llbaby couldnt fit her coolie on the top. Its a good thing my sil had the foresighr to put supports!

 

[N F C]

Poor kiddo...looks like the little kid left on the sidelines during recess.

 

[andreanar]

I'm sure she will find a way to squeeze her butt up there between a few others! Oh I can see the disruption now! LOL

 

[Howard E]

A common mistake. Birds all make for the highest roost they can, and will fight to get there. When room runs out, somebody looses. To avoid that, roosts should all be on the same level. So move the lower roost up and they will spread out.

Fights will still break out as they will want to be by their bestie, but that eventually sorts itself out as they hop back and forth.......which may not die down until it starts getting dark. Then it starts over again tomorrow.

 

[LilJoe]

Usually, in my flock, the dominant chickens get the top roost.

Even if there's room on top the one's that aren't dominant stay on bottom.

 

[GinaNew York]

Usually, in my flock, the dominant chickens get the top roost.

Even if there's room on top the one's that aren't dominant stay on bottom.

A week ago there was a clear division on the top and bottom. Only last night did they do this. Some like to roost right under another. We tried the two heights so they could get used to flying to the heights. Theyre all only just getting used to them at that height. Today they all started using the three nesting boxes and one tore a nail right off the quick. The back one, we think one of the others knocked her off the perch while she was sleeping. Weve sprayed vetricyn plus and blu kote. Shes not limping at all, so well continue three times a day. There was blood on the roost but the quick was ok. It had stopped bleeding by the time we found it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Everybody has their own opinion as to what is best. Ladder roosts have been successfully used for thousands of years as well as having all the roosts on the same level. They both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Chickens tend to want to roost on the highest place they can get. The dominant ones get to choose where they sleep and the less-dominant have to make do. There is often some squabbling as they sort this out, usually every night. You’d think they’d learn and just go to where they belong relative to the pecking order, but nope, not my bird brains. Even with plenty of roost space the same height some spots on the roosts are preferred more than others. In mine the favored spot is near the window.

Some birds are more brutal in enforcing pecking order rights than others, especially if you are integrating immature birds with mature birds. I’ve seen a hen leave her normal spot on the roost to go harass younger birds at the far end of the main roost. These harassed immature birds usually leave the main roosts and look for a safer place to sleep. With your ladder roost that might be the next level down instead of your nests.

Yours are still pretty young, they have some growing to do, both size and maturity levels. You will probably see more changes. As long as they are not sleeping in your nests you are doing fine. If some start sleeping in the nests putting in another roost so you have more roost space higher than the nests is usually a real good thing to do.

 

[Folly's place]

If you have the space, add a higher roost; all your roosts are pretty low, now that they can fly up there. Many of my birds roost eight feet up in the rafters! That wasn't planned (by me!) but the chickens thought it was a great idea. As long as nobody is getting injured, just let things develop and watch the show. Mary

 

[GinaNew York]

Everybody has their own opinion as to what is best. Ladder roosts have been successfully used for thousands of years as well as having all the roosts on the same level. They both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Chickens tend to want to roost on the highest place they can get. The dominant ones get to choose where they sleep and the less-dominant have to make do. There is often some squabbling as they sort this out, usually every night. You’d think they’d learn and just go to where they belong relative to the pecking order, but nope, not my bird brains. Even with plenty of roost space the same height some spots on the roosts are preferred more than others. In mine the favored spot is near the window.

Some birds are more brutal in enforcing pecking order rights than others, especially if you are integrating immature birds with mature birds. I’ve seen a hen leave her normal spot on the roost to go harass younger birds at the far end of the main roost. These harassed immature birds usually leave the main roosts and look for a safer place to sleep. With your ladder roost that might be the next level down instead of your nests.

Yours are still pretty young, they have some growing to do, both size and maturity levels. You will probably see more changes. As long as they are not sleeping in your nests you are doing fine. If some start sleeping in the nests putting in another roost so you have more roost space higher than the nests is usually a real good thing to do.

Brutal us a perfect description. Right now tbe nests are at 16 inches, the first roost is 24 and the second is 36. Theyre big breeds and thud when they land. I went by storeys guide for the heights. We can always raise them easily. During the day they just constantly walk and dig.
We were afraid to go higher. Are your birds big?

 

[Folly's place]

I have bantams and standard birds, and some of my EEs, Chanteclers, and French Marans are up there in the rafters, along with some of the bantams. They fly down onto the shavings and seem to do fine. Mary