Please critique my roost bar and poop tray layout

[rjackh]

I plan to use a 3' long 2x4 mounted horizontally (hens sit on 4" side) for the roost. This will be mounted about 18-24" off the coop floor and about 1' from the wall. My poop tray will be 1' wide by 3' long, with 1-2" lip to contain sand/sweet PDZ. How does all this sound so far? Should I center the poop tray under the roost? Or should it be offset towards the wall, anticipating that the hens will roost facing out into the coop? Thanks.

 

[ProviderEx]

how many birds will this coop hold.
about 10 inches per bird is the roost.
how old are these birds?
2x2 inch is the standard size for a roost.
some birds roost facing the wall, some roost facing the open area.
the poop catcher should be as long as the roost. if the roost is attached to the nesting box.
if it's a free standing roost, no need to worry, they will crap on the floor.

your information isn't very complete.

 

[Christin]

Tractor supply sells these rubber floor liner things (I cannot remember their name) that are thick and have about a 1in lip around the edge that I plan on using in the floor of my coop when I build it so that it is easy to clean. They have different sizes.

 

[rjackh]

your information isn't very complete.

4 large breed hens, 5 months old right now.

 

[ProviderEx]

for the larger breeds, you will want a 10" to 12" per bird. of roosting bar.
this will allow them to cozy up in the colder nights and spread apart in the hotter days.
same rule applies for the nesting boxes. However two birds will nest in the same box if they have enough squeezing room

 

[rjackh]

Is the roost the right distance from the wall and the right height off the coop floor? Is the tray the right width to catch most of the poop? And should the tray be centered under the roost or not?

 

[ProviderEx]

yes buddy. keep is off the ground about a foot to 4 feet.
I have roosts that are four feet off the ground and the birds love them, but I also have roosting bars attached to the nesting boxes that are only a foot off the ground as they are stacked.
your poop tray should be centered. if not run the whole length of the bar.
the distance from the wall should be also about 10-12 inches. you can get away with 6-8 inches but i like to make the birds comfortable.

 

[tracecom]

I plan to use a 3' long 2x4 mounted horizontally (hens sit on 4" side) for the roost. This will be mounted about 18-24" off the coop floor and about 1' from the wall. My poop tray will be 1' wide by 3' long, with 1-2" lip to contain sand/sweet PDZ. How does all this sound so far? Should I center the poop tray under the roost? Or should it be offset towards the wall, anticipating that the hens will roost facing out into the coop? Thanks.

Roost pole is correct. Poop board needs to be 24" wide and centered under the roost pole, about 8" under it. Chickens will poop on both sides of the roost pole. Lip size is okay. It will take about 15 pounds of PDZ.