Yeah, I have bantams, so they would fit under the shelf and use that space, but the big birds probably wouldn't. If the shelf can be raised, you can have poop boards. Some people love poop boards, others prefer a deep layer of bedding and just mixing the poop in. I have a small coop and only three birds, so it isn't a big deal to scoop the poop board every morning when I also go around the yard and pick up after the dogs.I was hoping it would be considered “usable” space for them during winter months when they don’t want to be outside (although I plan to try to weather proof some of the run also).
I’ll have to measure...I was just eyeballing. Maybe I can raise the shelf. I originally planned to remove it, but someone suggested leaving it for a poop catcher tray, which seemed like a good idea.
As far as the roosts go, they would have to be very low if running lengthwise in a 3' wide coop, since chickens jumping off a roost need around the same distance to land as the roost is tall (they "fall with style" at around a 45 degree angle). If you have a poop board, they can hop from the roost to the edge of the poop board to the floor.
Looking forward to seeing your progress!
Edited to add: I revise my thinking on the position of the roosts in my diagram. If you go with that setup with a poop board, make the two roosts the same height in the same space but running the other direction. I think with such a narrow space, the birds wouldn't be able to get past each other to the back roost the way I had it in the diagram.
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