Help! Struggling with roost/ set up in small coop!

[Aunt Angus]

My birds prefer the flat roost. I had both for a bit in my old set up, and none of the birds went for the round. But they may have chosen it for location, too. It may have had less to do with shape after all!

I had my first roosts above an isolation pen, about 30" up. They had a ramp up, but they just chose to jump. That ended up causing foot injuries for my big Cochin and Brahma. So my roosts are only 6 an 9 inches up. No more foot problems! They're still above my nest boxes, but my dang silkies are always in the boxes because they are always broody.

 

[Rachnicko]

I’m in the UK, and have a similar set up to yours. We have 4 chickens currently in a similar sized coop. I used lino for the floor topped with pine shavings, so clearing out once per week is easy. They free range in the day so they only use the Co-op to sleep. And they all end up on the ‘favourite roost’ or in the ‘favourite nest box’ anyway!

 

[Gabtods]

I’m in the UK, and have a similar set up to yours. We have 4 chickens currently in a similar sized coop. I used lino for the floor topped with pine shavings, so clearing out once per week is easy. They free range in the day so they only use the Co-op to sleep. And they all end up on the ‘favourite roost’ or in the ‘favourite nest box’ anyway!

How is your roost set up? How high? Which direction? Would love to see a picture of your set up if you’re willing to share! Thank you!

 

[Rachnicko]

Yes of course.

The coop is actually an old play house that was gifted by a friend, and painted up. I reinforced the floor and added Lino, and made a few mods (like adding chicken wire to the Perspex windows, the hatch door chicken entrance, and a stopper inside the door to stop shavings falling out which slides up and out for easy cleaning out).

I initially had a couple of roosts each side that slid in and out of slots. The current roost is an old log which has been sanded. It’s about 3.5” diameter and about a foot off the floor.

We currently have a broody who has made nest in the cardboard nesting box inside the coop. I have a couple of other nesting boxes around the garden though.

If there was anything I would modify, it would be to make one whole side open up, rather than the door we have now which is only half - it would just make it that bit easier to clean.

Hope that helps

 

[RebelEgger]

I'm sure the more experienced people are much better to listen to (I'm a chicken newb as well and we are currently in the process of building our first coop) We are making 2 roosts (2x4 on flat side), both about 3+ feet each but removable for cleaning, as well as the poop tray. Our coop is small as well (5''4 x 3"8). I will be posting coop build pics soon. Maybe an idea for you?

 

[RuthhoneyEstherFrannymom]

I'm not an expert at sexing, but if you post pics on the breed/gender topic, folks might be able to give you some early guesses, if you'd like to know. They're pretty cute little critters!

I have one week old Buff Orp. I’m thinking hens compare to others pictures.

 

[Dianemarie]

Get rid of the round wooden dowel and use a 2x4. Chickens walk flat footed. They are not a perching song bird. They like to park their body and sleep. The wide part of the 2x4 is 3 1/2" and they use it.
I have 10 chickens. All ten try and fit on the top roost. It is a six foot 2x4. Eight fit just fine but all ten will Bunch up on it. I have three 6 foot roost bars. Only two get used. The third one is only used to get up to the others. I have four nest boxes but only two get used.

Why are we telling people what to do using their own decision on how to set up their coop. There is no data saying that chicken should be roosting on a flat surface. When I read studies the type of roost is never a factor . My experience is the thrive using both. I have a coop with round bars and natural branches and a flat 2x4 and they are fine, if I want to get deep, I can say that my hens ALWAYS scoot their toes off the edge of the plank when they roost. They do NOT stay flat footed. I have a camera in my coops. I will show both.
They will be fine with a round roosting bar. They used round branches out in the wild for generations and they will be fine as long as the bar is the correct size for their feet. You can’t see their toes on the round roost.

 

[Dianemarie]

How is your roost set up? How high? Which direction? Would love to see a picture of your set up if you’re willing to share! Thank you!

How high will depend could depend on your chickens. Do you have light breeds flighty types like higher perches. Heavy or even heritage breeds might like them lower. 12” -24” if they are small you can put a lower one and let them jump up and over and they raise the second bar when they don’t need it. Trial and error. I didn’t put a roosting bar for my small chickens I brought heavy branch in and layed it down and see when my chicken hang out at. It was the highest part and the thickness didn’t matter much. You hens may prefer something different. You can change it later. There is lots of thread and people to ask here.

 

[Mouthpear]

Get rid of the round wooden dowel and use a 2x4. Chickens walk flat footed. They are not a perching song bird. They like to park their body and sleep. The wide part of the 2x4 is 3 1/2" and they use it.
I have 10 chickens. All ten try and fit on the top roost. It is a six foot 2x4. Eight fit just fine but all ten will Bunch up on it. I have three 6 foot roost bars. Only two get used. The third one is only used to get up to the others. I have four nest boxes but only two get used.

Wrong! Have you ever seen a flat branch. The 1 1/2 part of a 2x4, with rounded corners, is what is best for them.