Interior coop design: Corner vs Linear roosting bars

[Rc_Rosealetta]

Hello again!

I'm in the process of designing my "Coop-A-Cabana" that will be brought to fruition next spring. (Lumber is just too darn high right now)
Anyways, I'm looking for design opinions for the inside. The coop/shed will be at least half coop and the rest shed/garden storage. There will be a framed wall with a screen door and chicken wire "walls" to keep the sides separate but not restrict airflow/ventilation. Nesting boxes will be built into that wall on either side of the wall(lower half) with an access panel into the storage "room" portion so I will not have to enter to coop itself to collect eggs. Approximate size is going to be 10x16 (again, split into sides). 2 windows on either long wall, chicken door at floor level on a short wall.

Now, I'm considering doing corner roosting bars to give more "elevation" to the bars, using less wall spaces, and keeping them out of drafts from the windows. Is this an okay option? or should I do bars in line with the back (short) wall and not in the corner? I'm trying to make the best use of space and keeping things as efficient and practical as possible.

Can anyone lend an opinion? Pictures of the inside of their coops would also be greatly helpful!

 

[black_cat]

It might be easier to do linear ones, especially if you want to add poop boards. Beware of making the roosts too high, as dual purpose, heavier breeds such as barred rocks may have some difficulty getting up, and a hard landing on the ground could cause bumble foot.

 

[3KillerBs]

The problem with corner roosts is that the chickens can't use all the linear space -- the ends are too tight for them to fit their bodies into.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I'm in the process of designing my "Coop-A-Cabana" that will be brought to fruition next spring. (Lumber is just too darn high right now)

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Boy your not kidding about the cost of lumber right now! We started building a coop early last month and the cost of a 2x4 has gone up to almost $5 each.. more than double overnight!

We are putting the final touches on.. a 3 sided structure.. front wall in completely wire with lay boxes at the bottom. No side windows. I prefer linear roost, over corner to corner, I'm pretty sure. The chickens don't fit on the roost in the corners, making them useless. Also I prefer 2x4 with the wide side flat. Will post pics as soon as I can.

The value of recycling fence boards etc and using sweat equity just increased majorly.. Keep your eyes open for free materials that might be usable for you!

I love oops paint.. got a 5 gallon $115 value for $35..

You got plenty of time in your planning phase to work out the details and get it just right. Best wishes on your adventure!

 

[Rc_Rosealetta]

This is what I’m planning on building:

And this will be the “wall” on the inside:

with this in mind; where and how would you place the roosting bars?
Thanks!

 

[black_cat]

Having them where they are in the pic seems pretty darn good

 

[Lids]

This is what I’m planning on building: View attachment 2336116
And this will be the “wall” on the inside: View attachment 2336122

with this in mind; where and how would you place the roosting bars?
Thanks!

Window height, between windows. So at least 2 bars/perches. But that will cause difficulty in your movement for cleaning. I see the bar in the pic runs lengthwise there at window height on the right.

 

[Rc_Rosealetta]

Window height, between windows. So at least 2 bars/perches. But that will cause difficulty in your movement for cleaning. I see the bar in the pic runs lengthwise there at window height on the right.

Yes, the picture of the divider wall. I wasn't sure if that was a good location or not These pics are just for reference as nothing has been built yet. That picture was mainly for the door and wall combo. Trying to plan out everything for when the time comes. I would worry about drafts there right?

 

[3KillerBs]

The problem with your wire dividing wall is that chicken dust will completely coat everything that you have stored in the non-chicken half of the shed.

 

[Ridgerunner]

How many chickens are you planning on, not just now but in the future. Hard to design roost lengths without knowing what you are designing for.

What kind of weather are you looking at for winter and summer? In hot weather having windows at their level is good, they enjoy the breeze when on the roost as long as it is not a strong wind. In winter you don't want a cold breeze hitting them on the roosts but they still need lots of ventilation if you get very cold. If it gets very cold where you are I would not count on ventilation from those windows at all in winter but have plenty of permanent ventilation up high. You can use the windows as extra ventilation in hot weather. I only have one window in my coop. Right in front of that window is the favorite roosting spot for the ones highest in the pecking order.

The coop section will be about an 8' x 10', nice size. I like that wire wall. Being inside it will stay dry and add a fair amount of ventilation as long as the rest of that building is ventilated. If the rest of the building is pretty much closed don't worry about a breeze hitting them from that side. Since you don't plan on entering the coop to collect eggs you can still see in there. That's why I like going inside my coop to collect eggs, I've found snakes, a possum, and a couple of dead chickens in there I would not have found if I didn't go inside, but you can see. Chickens create a lot of dust, expect anything you store in that storage side to get covered in dust.

Where to put the roosts? The way I determine height is to determine the floor height, including any bedding. Then I position the nests. Some people like their nests down low, others like them higher up so they don't have to bend so far to collect eggs. Make them convenient to you. Then put the roosts noticeably higher than the nests or any other place you don't want them to sleep. Most of the time they like to sleep in the highest spot available. 12" higher should work well in a coop that size.

I want the roosts as low as I can reasonable make them. The higher the roosts the more clear landing space they need to fly down. My full sized fowl have no problems flying up to a 5' high roost and have never had bumblefoot from flying down. Try to keep feeders and waterers out of their flight path though. I want my permanent ventilation well above the roosts so a winter breeze doesn't hit them if that is the only ventilation I have.

My main criteria on positioning the roosts is to make it convenient to you. You do not want them pooping in feed, water, or the nests from the roost. You probably need access to the pop door form the inside of the coop. You want to be able to raise and lower those windows. Not sure how much roost length you need or whether you plan on a droppings board but I'd give a lot of thought to that wall furthest form the door.