Roost bar layout question (with photos)

[CaptainCat]

Hi chicken keeping friends!

I have 8 chicks that were hatched 5/1 and are now out in the coop. My coop is 42”W x 8’L x 10’H. Originally I installed 3 roost bars , each at least 12” apart (width) and at least 12” vertically spaced (see photo 1). I needed to install my rollaway next box as I have a few more weeks until my chicks should start laying. My husband installed this for me on the back wall of the coop (along the 42” wide side, as shown in both pictures). The perch and opening are 24” from the coop floor.

My lowest roost bar is 24” off the coop floor and is 64” from the front door of the coop. The middle roost bar is 40” off the coop floor, and the farthest back is 52” off the floor. My nesting box perch & opening is therefore level with lowest roosting bar and both are separated by 24”.

My questions are:

1. Will my lowest roost bar pose problems with my chickens being able to access their nesting box? (Same height, 24” apart)

2. Should I use the setup in photo 1 or photo 2 (remove the lowest roost bar and add a ladder, or not?)

 

[rosemarythyme]

They should be able to access the boxes even with the low bar in place but I would NOT have any nest box under roosts, you're going to get poop dropping in.

The ladder isn't necessary, they can fly up onto the roosts.

Hard to "fix" this since the coop is so narrow it's sort of forcing you to put roosts across the width instead of lengthwise. Maybe move the high roost to where the middle one is, and the middle roost to where the low currently sits? And remove the feeder and waterer for landing space. Does that fully get the roosts away from the top of the nests?

 

[CaptainCat]

They should be able to access the boxes even with the low bar in place but I would NOT have any nest box under roosts, you're going to get poop dropping in.

The ladder isn't necessary, they can fly up onto the roosts.

Hard to "fix" this since the coop is so narrow it's sort of forcing you to put roosts across the width instead of lengthwise. Maybe move the high roost to where the middle one is, and the middle roost to where the low currently sits? And remove the feeder and waterer for landing space. Does that fully get the roosts away from the top of the nests?

Thanks so much for the reply!

We plan to make a poop shelf below the top roost for sure to catch the poop from falling on the nesting box, and we thought about extending that to come out beneath the second (middle) roost bar, but will need to see if that would give the chickens enough space underneath to still fly into the nesting box/perch. I had hoped my hubby would install the nest box lower, which would solve some of these problems, but I'll take what I can get.

We also plan to move the food and water outside into the run, once we finish covering it. Currently there is no roof on the run, so we are hesitant to move the food outside (don't want other birds getting free food )

Another idea was to have all the roosts even with each other, at the height of the highest roost bar, so I can build a poop shelf up high. Though I'm not sure if 52" is too high for them to fly off with the limited space in front.

 

[rosemarythyme]

We plan to make a poop shelf below the top roost for sure to catch the poop from falling on the nesting box, and we thought about extending that to come out beneath the second (middle) roost bar, but will need to see if that would give the chickens enough space underneath to still fly into the nesting box/perch.

Hmm, might need to lay that out on graph paper to ensure that there's still space and that you will also be able to reach in order to clean and maintain.

Another idea was to have all the roosts even with each other, at the height of the highest roost bar, so I can build a poop shelf up high. Though I'm not sure if 52" is too high for them to fly off with the limited space in front.

How much space is in front? You need at least as much space in front as the roost is high in order for them to safely land. And what types of birds do you have? Heavier breeds would do better with lower roosts overall.

 

[CaptainCat]

Hmm, might need to lay that out on graph paper to ensure that there's still space and that you will also be able to reach in order to clean and maintain.

How much space is in front? You need at least as much space in front as the roost is high in order for them to safely land. And what types of birds do you have? Heavier breeds would do better with lower roosts overall.

Definitely agree - not sure we will have enough room. Somehow my master plan wasn’t as great of a plan as I had hoped!

There is 64” from the front of the lowest roost bar to the front of the coop. We have one of each: French BCM, Leghorn, Lavender Ameraucana, Buff Orpington, Easter Egger, Australorp, Barred Rock.

 

[rosemarythyme]

There is 64” from the front of the lowest roost bar to the front of the coop. We have one of each: French BCM, Leghorn, Lavender Ameraucana, Buff Orpington, Easter Egger, Australorp, Barred Rock.

The Marans and Orp will likely be heavier than the others, but 52" is probably okay height-wise. You likely have enough clearance in front if you need to move the roosts up to that height.

 

[CaptainCat]

The Marans and Orp will likely be heavier than the others, but 52" is probably okay height-wise. You likely have enough clearance in front if you need to move the roosts up to that height.

The other thing I was thinking was dropping down to 2 roost bars, lowering them a bit, and doing one poop board under both roost boards. I originally gave 12” per bird, and I have 8 birds, hence the 3 roosts. They currently are all squeezing on the highest roost, with one alone on the middle roost. What do you think about removing the third and only having two? Would give 10” per bird.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The other thing I was thinking was dropping down to 2 roost bars, lowering them a bit, and doing one poop board under both roost boards. I originally gave 12” per bird, and I have 8 birds, hence the 3 roosts. They currently are all squeezing on the highest roost, with one alone on the middle roost. What do you think about removing the third and only having two? Would give 10” per bird.

I think I'd go with this option.

It'd be optimal to give them a full 12" per bird BUT the reality is they tend to pack like sardines on the roosts even if you give them a ton of space (I've had as many as 10 birds on a 5.5' roost). So realistically 10" per bird is likely enough. If issues arise from not having enough roost space, you can always revisit the issue later.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Chickens are not democratic. They all want to roost as high as they possibly can, it gives them a feeling of security. Birds closest to the ground are fodder for predators, according to the hard wiring in their birdy little brains. What will cause them the least stress is for you to run a roost perpendicular to the highest roost (at whatever height you decide that to be), along one long wall, so they can all roost at the same height. This will elimiinate nightly jostling, pecking and bedtime shuffling for the highest spots. Be sure the poop boards are low enough to be easy to clean daily. Somebody may have said that already, but it bears repeating.

 

[CaptainCat]

I think I'd go with this option.

It'd be optimal to give them a full 12" per bird BUT the reality is they tend to pack like sardines on the roosts even if you give them a ton of space (I've had as many as 10 birds on a 5.5' roost). So realistically 10" per bird is likely enough. If issues arise from not having enough roost space, you can always revisit the issue later.

I like it! I’ll work on drawing it out this time before I execute anything

Thanks so much for your help & guidance. It’s definitely not easy being new to owning birds…but it’s sure fun learning!