[samuria]

i have just built a 6 x 6 shed for my buff's
what is the best height for the perch +dropping board?
thanks

[Sassy]

It needs to be above the nest area as a must.

[ehs284]

As Sassy said, the perch should be above the nest box. The floor/dropping board should be well below the perches. Because I was worried about birds falling, I once put the dropping board about 30cm below the perch and the birds were quite upset; all crowding together at one end. Now the top perch is about one metre above the dropping board and they are happy. The dropping board is on the floor (concrete floor with ply dropping board) and the nest boxes are about 10cm up from the floor with a lip and perching board. They keep the nest boxes clean and seem content with the set-up.
On an aside (hope you don't mind) - has anybody seen this behaviour...........
One night last week they seemed very reluctant to settle so I watched for a bit. There seemed to some sort of a fight going on for places on the perches - there is enough room for many more birds; they just seem to fancy a particular spot. There was no pecking. The 'attacking' bird put its head under the 'victim' and then pushed up, causing the victim to fall off the perch. Never seen it before or since.

[nerdle]

My girls bury heads into each others downy sides - I think they are just being freindly and snuggling up!