My chickens like sleeping up high in their coop. Should I change something here?

[ThatsMyPurseIdontknowyou]

I built this coop last month, and I was told that the chickens shouldn't be up high where the cross breeze is in their coop. They have roosts about 12" off the floor of their coop area, but low enough that they aren't up high where the hardware cloth is that lets air through.


Kinda hard to see because its night vision on the wifi cam I keep in the coop, but you can see them sitting across the top.

Here is what it looks like in the day time.

And you can see where I put roosts in

Should I put some additional roosts in up higher to give them the option to roost up higher like they seem to like doing?

Or is this a bad idea? If its cold, will they stay down out of the breeze if they get cold? I'm not sure how intelligent chickens are with this sort of situation.

Thanks!

 

[Squawkers]

Hi! I’m happy to see them enjoying the coop you worked so hard on!! Is there a way for you to make it to where they can’t get up there? I think that is a bad spot for winter (summer wood be perfectly fine) maybe put a piece of wood over what they are sitting on?

 

[ThatsMyPurseIdontknowyou]

Hi! I’m happy to see them enjoying the coop you worked so hard on!! Is there a way for you to make it to where they can’t get up there? I think that is a bad spot for winter (summer wood be perfectly fine) maybe put a piece of wood over what they are sitting on?

They are sitting on the 2x4 that runs from one side of the coop to the other that the plywood the coop is made out of is screwed into. It's a pretty narrow ledge. I kind of suspect as they get bigger they may no longer fit up there.

 

[Squawkers]

They are sitting on the 2x4 that runs from one side of the coop to the other that the plywood the coop is made out of is screwed into. It's a pretty narrow ledge. I kind of suspect as they get bigger they may no longer fit up there.

I’m sure you’re right. Maybe just something temporary to keep them down depending on how bad your weather is now. I’m sure it’s probably already fairly cold where you are now, so that might be something you want to do.

 

[AinaWGSD]

They are sitting on the 2x4 that runs from one side of the coop to the other that the plywood the coop is made out of is screwed into. It's a pretty narrow ledge. I kind of suspect as they get bigger they may no longer fit up there.

Nah, a 2x4 on edge is a really common roost. Even very large chickens will happily and comfortably roost on that.

Could you maybe block off the area by stapling chicken wire between the wall of the coop and the rafter? Chicken wire does a terrible job with predator protection but is just fine for containing (or excluding) chickens.

 

[Squawkers]

I was thinking just a narrow piece of plywood or osb leaning at an angle

 

[Squawkers]

Nah, a 2x4 on edge is a really common roost. Even very large chickens will happily and comfortably roost on that.

Really? That’s funny, not what I would expect

 

[ThatsMyPurseIdontknowyou]

I’m sure you’re right. Maybe just something temporary to keep them down depending on how bad your weather is now. I’m sure it’s probably already fairly cold where you are now, so that might be something you want to do.

It's in the 50s. I'm walking around in a T-shirt. This weather is weird.

 

[Squawkers]

Oh, when you say on edge do you mean where the short side is up or on the edge of the wall? @AinaWGSD

 

[ThatsMyPurseIdontknowyou]

Nah, a 2x4 on edge is a really common roost. Even very large chickens will happily and comfortably roost on that.

Could you maybe block off the area by stapling chicken wire between the wall of the coop and the rafter? Chicken wire does a terrible job with predator protection but is just fine for containing (or excluding) chickens.

Yes, but this is up against the side of the coop.

The chicken wire thing is a good idea. I could do that pretty easy.