2x4's for roost?

[daniel-delarosa]

Will 2x4's work for a roost? What height do they need to be? Do I need one inside the coop and one in the run?

 

[Bandit]

2x4 with the flat side up is a perfect roost. My chickens are about 4 inches off the ground but you can go higher. They just like to be off the ground. And they like to have a roost outside the coop just to sit and look around if you want to put one up for them outside the coop too.

 

[Desert Rooster]

a 2x4 is fine, just place it so the 4" side of the wood is in the horizontal position so they can cover their feet when they sleep, i have my roosts setup at 4 feet off the ground, 3-4 feet should be fine, and you can put a small roost in the run, so they can roost during the day if they want.

 

[sharol]

In my little coop run last summer I had an outside roost (the run was VERY secure) and they spent lots of time on it. It was about 22" high. There were also 2 roosts inside the small coop. I used 2x4's with the wide side up even though it looked too wide for them. They loved it.

In my permanent coop, they have 2 roosts the width of the building at 2' and 4' off the ground. Of course they all sleep on the 4' roost. Common belief is that you need a foot of roost for each chicken.

 

[annaraven]

Are 2x4s better than 1x6s?

 

[OkChickens]

Quote:
Yes 2x4's will be great for roosts! My roosts are about 4 ft off the ground and they seem to find places way higher to roost like the rafters in my barn! Make sure that you have about 1 foot per chicken of roost area. I think 2x4's would be better than 1x6's. What breeds of chickens do you have and how many?

-Nate

 

[Wisher1000]

Okay guys, at the risk of causing a major debate...I have my 2x4's turned with the 2" side up. The board is stronger in this direction for long spans and my birds seem to cover their feet just fine. I have LF and they puff up so that their toes cannot be seen. I am in the south and the winters here are not too cold (compared to some of you) but we have some spells with below freezing temps for several days and occasionally it drops to the single digits. We have had no problems with frostbite and some of our roosts are 12' long. My guess is that the other direction is more critical in the colder climates but here it is not.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Quote:
Same here, everyone I know of in our area uses either 2 X 4's with the 2" side up or peeled poles around 3" around. I think it might make more sense up north where it's colder though. Ours are around 3' off the ground too. Never had any problems so far.

 

[OkChickens]

Quote:
Agreed! I don't use 2x4 but I use either 2x2's or 1x2's about 4' of the ground depending on what I have available and I haven't had a frostbite hen and It has got down to 7 degrees here. I do have heavy breed chickens which helps with covering the feet but use what is available. If it get really cold then use thicker wood for the roosts.

-Nate

 

[dldolan]

I have found old bannister (railings) to be awesome! and kind of pretty... They are usually about 3" wide and 2" thick...just right for LF hens!