All about Roosts

[Mrs. Light Sussex]

I'd appreciate your input regarding roosts;
how high should they be?
is it preferable to have several different heights?
if so, how many
which should be the longest to accommodate the most birds?

 

[peterlund]

One up high. Corner to corner. They will love it.
And make it roughly round... not smooth round. Or go get a nice thin 1 1/2" diameter or so oak tree limb.... great roost pole.

 

[Mrs. Light Sussex]

I was planing on using 2x4 lumber for roost. Is it too wide?

 

[Pork Pie]

I was planing on using 2x4 lumber for roost. Is it too wide?

Nope, it's fine. Personally I have mine all at the same height - they fight for the top roost otherwise. No set rule for height but keep them not much higher than 1m, particularly if you have heavy breeds (they are more susceptible to leg damage when dismounting from roosts)

 

[peterlund]

I was planing on using 2x4 lumber for roost. Is it too wide?

I guess we all still have our thoughts on this..... my ladies prefer a rounded sorta natural grasping roost pole. They had abandoned the 2 x 4 on edge for a tree branch in minutes. Maybe try both. Report your findings! good luck with your birds.

 

[Mrs. Light Sussex]

I guess we all still have our thoughts on this..... my ladies prefer a rounded sorta natural grasping roost pole. They had abandoned the 2 x 4 on edge for a tree branch in minutes. Maybe try both. Report your findings! good luck with your birds.

Thanks, will try both, we'll see what they prefer.

 

[peterlund]

Thanks, will try both, we'll see what they prefer.

For full disclosure, i have a flock of 5 barred rocks that prefer their log. It is litterally a 24" diameter pine tree log that i built their enclosed run around. It has a nice curve yet a grooved surface due to the rough bark... they jump up there at night and call it home.... their roost pole off in the distance. I guess you could call it somewhere between flat and curved right?
So i guess the birds will decide.

 

[Boone Farm]

My small premade coop came with a roosting bar only about 6" off the ground. They couldn't go under it and with the small coop I wanted that ability. I raised it up to about 18" high and they have really liked it that high. Basically the big rule is to have it higher than your nesting boxes cause otherwise they will try and roost on the nesting boxes. They will always try to go to the highest roost for safety so make sure the highest roost is where you want them.

 

[Mrs. Light Sussex]

My small premade coop came with a roosting bar only about 6" off the ground. They couldn't go under it and with the small coop I wanted that ability. I raised it up to about 18" high and they have really liked it that high. Basically the big rule is to have it higher than your nesting boxes cause otherwise they will try and roost on the nesting boxes. They will always try to go to the highest roost for safety so make sure the highest roost is where you want them.

How wide is the roosting bar?

 

[Boone Farm]

How wide is the roosting bar?

It is basically a 2"x 2" that has rounded edges. They love it.