I'm currently building a new coop. One item I haven't figured out is best way to build in a lower roosting bar for any older/heavier hens, and specifically one that has a permanent wing injury from a fox attack. She can walk up a ramp just fine, as long as it's a ramp, not an open ladder, but jumping too far up onto a perch or roost is not something she can manage now, and I doubt ever. She comfortable stepping up, but not jumping. She's a very large Barred Rock, so I also worry about her jumping too far to the ground and injuring a leg/foot since she can't use one of her wings for balance or to soften the landing. But she's my favorite, so she gets special accommodations for as long as she needs them.
Our current coop is an Omlet Cube, so once she's up the ramp, she doesn't need to go any higher to roost in the coop.
The new coop will be about 3' off the ground already, and I have the ramp figured out (based on what she's comfortable using now). Once inside the new coop, she and probably her best buddy, an older Orpington, will need a place to roost and I'm looking for ideas. Because I know you all will ask, the coop will be 12' wide by 3' deep by 4' tall. The primary roosting bar will run about 75% of the way across the width of the coop. I don't have photos as it's not built yet, but I'm really just looking for inspiration based on what others have done.
What have you all done that's worked well for accommodating roosting/perching of older/heavier/injured chickens? Any failed ideas that I should avoid?
Our current coop is an Omlet Cube, so once she's up the ramp, she doesn't need to go any higher to roost in the coop.
The new coop will be about 3' off the ground already, and I have the ramp figured out (based on what she's comfortable using now). Once inside the new coop, she and probably her best buddy, an older Orpington, will need a place to roost and I'm looking for ideas. Because I know you all will ask, the coop will be 12' wide by 3' deep by 4' tall. The primary roosting bar will run about 75% of the way across the width of the coop. I don't have photos as it's not built yet, but I'm really just looking for inspiration based on what others have done.
What have you all done that's worked well for accommodating roosting/perching of older/heavier/injured chickens? Any failed ideas that I should avoid?