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Roost bars

post #1 of 22
2/26/12 at 9:56am
Thread Starter 

Ok so my coop is coming along nicely.  Question about roosting  bars.. How many do I need for say 7 chicks and how far away should they be from the nesting boxes. This is inside the coop outside run i will put a couple also but that I can figure out.  

Thanks

Jon

Who knew this would be come an addiction!  I currently have 13 hens and 1 large light brahma rooster. We also have somelittle ones but as I have learned here they don't count.  I have started building coops to Sell.  I have come up with a company name Olde Tyme Coops hopefully it works out!

 

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Who knew this would be come an addiction!  I currently have 13 hens and 1 large light brahma rooster. We also have somelittle ones but as I have learned here they don't count.  I have started building coops to Sell.  I have come up with a company name Olde Tyme Coops hopefully it works out!

 

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post #2 of 22
2/26/12 at 11:36am

I have 7 chickens also. My coop is 4x8, 4' tall. Roosts are on one side, nest boxes on the other. I have 2- 2x4's running across, and a thick branch tree limb between them. The furthest back 2x4 is higher. 5 birds roost on the highest bar, my 2 barred rock hens roost on the lower bar

 

 

[2012-01-30_06-50-39_512.jpg

Proud owner of 4 Red Sex Links, 2 barred Rocks, 1 RIR, 2 Daschunds, a kid and a wife!!!

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Proud owner of 4 Red Sex Links, 2 barred Rocks, 1 RIR, 2 Daschunds, a kid and a wife!!!

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post #3 of 22
2/26/12 at 2:56pm

It doesn't really matter where you put the roosts as long as they are higher than your nesting boxes (if they are lower or the same height you run the risk of your birds preferring to sleep in the nesting boxes and that means you will have poopy eggs) and away from drafts. Also put them atleast 12 inches from the wall to give your birds enough room.

If you have large breeds you need 10-12 in. per bird of roost space so 70 in. for 7 birds, less space for smaller breeds.


Edited by mtnhens4 - 2/26/12 at 2:59pm
Let everything that has breath, Praise the Lord!
The 2 of us with 2 BO's, 1RIR, 1 BR, 1 EE, 1 B/W Ameruicana, 1 cute little dog and 1 cat with a tude.
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Let everything that has breath, Praise the Lord!
The 2 of us with 2 BO's, 1RIR, 1 BR, 1 EE, 1 B/W Ameruicana, 1 cute little dog and 1 cat with a tude.
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post #4 of 22
2/26/12 at 3:00pm

X2  smile.png  Definitely make the roosting bars higher than the nest boxes. They don't need nearly as much room on the roosting poles as you'd think.  Mine like to scrunch together and the bar is empty at the end. 
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by mtnhens4 View Post

It doesn't really matter where you put the roosts as long as they are higher than your nesting boxes (if they are lower or the same height you run the risk of your birds preferring to sleep in the nesting boxes and that means you will have poopy eggs) and away from drafts. Also put them atleast 12 inches from the wall to give your birds enough room.



 

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post #5 of 22
2/26/12 at 3:57pm
Thread Starter 

Ok so this is what I made may need to remove the bottom one oh well back to the drawing board!

 

 

Who knew this would be come an addiction!  I currently have 13 hens and 1 large light brahma rooster. We also have somelittle ones but as I have learned here they don't count.  I have started building coops to Sell.  I have come up with a company name Olde Tyme Coops hopefully it works out!

 

Reply

Who knew this would be come an addiction!  I currently have 13 hens and 1 large light brahma rooster. We also have somelittle ones but as I have learned here they don't count.  I have started building coops to Sell.  I have come up with a company name Olde Tyme Coops hopefully it works out!

 

Reply
post #6 of 22
2/26/12 at 3:59pm
Thread Starter 

IMG_20120226_140135.jpgIMG_20120226_140125.jpg

Who knew this would be come an addiction!  I currently have 13 hens and 1 large light brahma rooster. We also have somelittle ones but as I have learned here they don't count.  I have started building coops to Sell.  I have come up with a company name Olde Tyme Coops hopefully it works out!

 

Reply

Who knew this would be come an addiction!  I currently have 13 hens and 1 large light brahma rooster. We also have somelittle ones but as I have learned here they don't count.  I have started building coops to Sell.  I have come up with a company name Olde Tyme Coops hopefully it works out!

 

Reply
post #7 of 22
2/26/12 at 4:00pm
Thread Starter 

the plan was to catch most of the poop under the roost bars in a sand box !

Who knew this would be come an addiction!  I currently have 13 hens and 1 large light brahma rooster. We also have somelittle ones but as I have learned here they don't count.  I have started building coops to Sell.  I have come up with a company name Olde Tyme Coops hopefully it works out!

 

Reply

Who knew this would be come an addiction!  I currently have 13 hens and 1 large light brahma rooster. We also have somelittle ones but as I have learned here they don't count.  I have started building coops to Sell.  I have come up with a company name Olde Tyme Coops hopefully it works out!

 

Reply
post #8 of 22
2/26/12 at 4:10pm

I'd leave the roost bars the way they are.  Two of the three are higher than the nest boxes - and as long as all the chickens can fit on the top two, it'll probably work.  And if they try to roost in the nest boxes, you can cover the nest boxes until they get into the habit of using the roost bars.

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post #9 of 22
2/26/12 at 4:24pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by CarolJ View Post

I'd leave the roost bars the way they are.  Two of the three are higher than the nest boxes - and as long as all the chickens can fit on the top two, it'll probably work.  And if they try to roost in the nest boxes, you can cover the nest boxes until they get into the habit of using the roost bars.



each bar is almost 3 ft long and I was debating adding another one higher.  I plan to use chicken wire under the bars to keep then out of there poop.  what do you recommend for flooring.  I see alot of people use vinyl floor does it work I was thinking of picking up some pan liner for building standing up showers its like a thick rubber sheet that i could put over the floor to protect it from moisture!

Thanks for the advice by the way

 

Who knew this would be come an addiction!  I currently have 13 hens and 1 large light brahma rooster. We also have somelittle ones but as I have learned here they don't count.  I have started building coops to Sell.  I have come up with a company name Olde Tyme Coops hopefully it works out!

 

Reply

Who knew this would be come an addiction!  I currently have 13 hens and 1 large light brahma rooster. We also have somelittle ones but as I have learned here they don't count.  I have started building coops to Sell.  I have come up with a company name Olde Tyme Coops hopefully it works out!

 

Reply
post #10 of 22
2/26/12 at 4:48pm

I put some linoleum under my roost bars and put sand on top of that.  Makes it really easy to clean up.

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