Nesting area vs sleeping area

[Chicklady1026]

Hi! I’m new to chickens and my chicks are getting close to going out into their coop. I’m having second thoughts about our coop. I’m also a little confused.

Are the chickens suppose to sleep in their nesting area? Or is the nesting area and where they sleep supposed to be two separate areas?

 

[WingItRanch]

Hi there! The nesting area (usually boxes) are supposed to be for laying eggs. You wouldn't want them sleeping in there because they poop a lot at night and you want your egg area to stay clean.

The chickens should roost at night. They would instinctual want to be perched on a piece of wood up higher. It may take babies some time to adjust from sleeping huddled together in the brooder but they will eventually use roosting bars.

If you want to provide pictures of your coop, we can provide feedback.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Sleeping in the nesting area leads to poo on eggs. Yes separate spots.
Roosting is sitting on a limb or 2x4 to sleep.
Nests are for egg laying.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I agree with the others. The reason you don't want them sleeping in the nests is to keep your eggs clean. Until they are laying where they sleep is not a big deal to me. I've had some start laying as young as 16 weeks so your target to have them roosting probably should be 15 weeks to give you a margin.

Most chickens like to sleep at the highest place available so if your roosts are higher than the nests most people won't have a problem. I've had my brooder-raised chicks start sleeping on the roosts by 5 weeks when no older chickens are on the roosts but that is rare. Most of mine start sleeping on the roosts around 10 to 12 weeks of age. I don't think you have older chickens. If you do then none of this "where they sleep and when" applies.

If your roosts are not higher than the nests you might have issues. If you have concerns about that you can post photos on here and we can comment. To me it sounds like you may have one of those small prefab coops with roosts at floor level that is leading to your confusion.

Another possible issue is that you do not want your roosts to be over open nests as they poop while on the roosts and can dirty your nests. You also do not want them pooping in the food or water while on the roosts.

 

[Chicklady1026]

Hi there! The nesting area (usually boxes) are supposed to be for laying eggs. You wouldn't want them sleeping in there because they poop a lot at night and you want your egg area to stay clean.

The chickens should roost at night. They would instinctual want to be perched on a piece of wood up higher. It may take babies some time to adjust from sleeping huddled together in the brooder but they will eventually use roosting bars.

If you want to provide pictures of your coop, we can provide feedback.

Here are a few pictures, it’s clearly not fully done, and open to changing/adding to it. Just wondering where everything should go!

 

[Chicklady1026]

I agree with the others. The reason you don't want them sleeping in the nests is to keep your eggs clean. Until they are laying where they sleep is not a big deal to me. I've had some start laying as young as 16 weeks so your target to have them roosting probably should be 15 weeks to give you a margin.

Most chickens like to sleep at the highest place available so if your roosts are higher than the nests most people won't have a problem. I've had my brooder-raised chicks start sleeping on the roosts by 5 weeks when no older chickens are on the roosts but that is rare. Most of mine start sleeping on the roosts around 10 to 12 weeks of age. I don't think you have older chickens. If you do then none of this "where they sleep and when" applies.

If your roosts are not higher than the nests you might have issues. If you have concerns about that you can post photos on here and we can comment. To me it sounds like you may have one of those small prefab coops with roosts at floor level that is leading to your confusion.

Another possible issue is that you do not want your roosts to be over open nests as they poop while on the roosts and can dirty your nests. You also do not want them pooping in the food or water while on the roosts.

Thank you! I’ll attach some pictures and if you have any idea of where to put the nesting boxes, roosting area I’m 100% open to ideas! (It’s not done yet so things can be changed/added)

 

[Ridgerunner]

How many chickens do you have so we can look at roost length needed and number of nests needed? What are the dimensions of that coop (length, width, and height)? Why do you have that shelf in the end? How high is that shelf from the coop floor and how deep is it from the back wall? Where are the human door and the pop door (the door the chickens use)?

That looks like a walk-in coop so I'd want the roosts in the back so they are out of my way when I go inside. The nests can go many places. To make specific suggestions I'd need more information.

 

[WingItRanch]

Ok so are you going to finish the coop walls inside the Run? Enclosed the solid black area?

If so, I can see your confusion because you have two separate shelfs.

Typically one would have a coop attached to a Run. The coop would be enclosed like a little house with a door and some ventilation so the chickens would be able to sleep protected and away from elements. Inside the coop, you'd have nest boxes easily accessible so you can grab eggs. There would also be roosting bars. Some people put poop boards under the roosting bars if their nesting boxes are close to the ground.

What is your current plan? Also, how many chickens? They'll need plenty of room on the roost but typically share nesting boxes. For example, I have 4 nesting boxes for 12 chickens.

 

[Chicklady1026]

Ok so are you going to finish the coop walls inside the Run? Enclosed the solid black area?

If so, I can see your confusion because you have two separate shelfs.

Typically one would have a coop attached to a Run. The coop would be enclosed like a little house with a door and some ventilation so the chickens would be able to sleep protected and away from elements. Inside the coop, you'd have nest boxes easily accessible so you can grab eggs. There would also be roosting bars. Some people put poop boards under the roosting bars if their nesting boxes are close to the ground.

What is your current plan? Also, how many chickens? They'll need plenty of room on the roost but typically share nesting boxes. For example, I have 4 nesting boxes for 12 chickens.

Yes, so the “shelf” is getting inclosed and we are most likely going to add some type of door in the back to be able to reach in and get eggs easily.

We were going to sleep the bottom of the shelf open so they have more space.

Also adding a little door on the side where the chickens can get in and out of the coop.

After the clarification on where the chickens are suppose to sleep, we are kind of thinking that we would put nesting boxes on one side of the shelf, and roosting bars on the other. For one to save as much run space as possible and keep them out of the wind

 

[Chicklady1026]

Yes, so the “shelf” is getting inclosed and we are most likely going to add some type of door in the back to be able to reach in and get eggs easily.

We were going to sleep the bottom of the shelf open so they have more space.

Also adding a little door on the side where the chickens can get in and out of the coop.

After the clarification on where the chickens are suppose to sleep, we are kind of thinking that we would put nesting boxes on one side of the shelf, and roosting bars on the other. For one to save as much run space as possible and keep them out of the wind

Also, we have 10 chickens total