[celtbhoy]

ok iv done the coop and run for 3 maybe 4 birds, iv arranged for me to collect in a week or so, but here is my question...do i make sure they are in coop at night and lock it when they are in?  whats the drill?

thankx

[Roughlee Handled]

They will normally do to bed when it gets to dusk.  You just have to go and close the pop hole door.  You should close it or a predator could get to your chucks.

[celtbhoy]

ye cool, but whats all this about lifting them up to perch?  surely if they want to perch they will?

and should the nesting boxes be separated? my layout is a long slatted beam plenty of room for 3 but they have no separators...?

tnx

[Roughlee Handled]

Most chickens are barn reared and have to be taught to perch. They soon get the hang of it. Its best to have them perching (more natural and it stops them from lie-ing in there own pooo.

Nest boxes should be Nest box Size = 14 x 14 inch for normal birds, 12x 12 inch for bantam. For three or four birds I would suggest at least 2.

[janeheritage]

Mine were reared in stables with straw bales to perch on.

On the first night we had to help them back into their coop (ie catch them and put them in there by force - great fun!  ). Every night after that they went back by themselves and we just had to shut the door.

They took longer to get perching right. There were lots of squabbles about who sits where and a fair bit of roosting in the nest box, but after a while they got the hang of it 

[celtbhoy]

iv installed a pole to perch on..we'll see!

[Roughlee Handled]

sorry forgot to mention the perch should be 2-3 inches wide.

[celtbhoy]

sorry forgot to mention the perch should be 2-3 inches wide.

*...back to the drawing board then..only an ole curtain pole!

[Roughlee Handled]

Have a read of this thread
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=32947.0
its called DIY chicken coop guidance and was posted by one of the Mods