Build a better roost

How far does that tray extend outward from the wall, and how high is the roost centered above the tray? The depth outward looks like enough so that the chickens' faces and/or butts aren't pushed up against the wall.

I like the fact that it looks permanent and not wasting PDZ when you clean it out. Just scoop out the droppings? I bought some extra pieces of wood before I do my final installation and was debating about a poop tray. --BB

 

The tray is 24" deep, the roost in the middle (12"). It is about 8" high. With the roost that height, all poop is well inside the tray. Also if you look at the second picture, there is a 2 x 3 on the wall above the roost, I lift the roost up on both sides so it's totally out of my way when I scoop.

 

My birds tend to fly to the three foot high roosts, and then up eight feet. In the other section, they fly right up to the eight ft. high rafters with no middle steps. In the morning, they all fly down.
Different birds like different locations, and I have a lot of roost space, so everyone can pick their best spot.
Mary

 

I don’t even have a ladder - they easily just fly up and down

 

Thanks so much! I believe I may use a smaller adaptation of this design for my small coop. It's only 6x6 feet.

I also like how those nest boxes are snuggled out of the way toward the corner. Should offer a lot of privacy for them.

 

Some pics of your current coop and roosts would help.

I use poop boards too.


Have extra roosts for younguns, this end of coop is partitioned off with a temp wire wall(not shown here) for brooding and integrating new chicks.

 

PDZ is the material that you use to sprinkle on the poop boards, originally meant for horse stalls. I'm not sure if it has the consistency of sand, but the Feed stores usually carry it. It's like using kitty litter.

 

It's a board with PDZ on it. Look here http://www.sweetpdz.com/chick.html