Chicken roost guidance

[630004]

i need some suggestions on how to setup perches for our chickens. We will have 20 chickens sleeping in here and need to make sure we have some roosts setup.

My initial thought was to put several 2x4’s going left to right. I want to take advantage of the height of the coop.

What do you think?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

A lot of people do 2x4s. I don't, but many people say they're easier for the birds to perch on those.

 

[CKfarm22]

We used 2x4s! In the new coop we’re going to add some poop boards under the 2x4s so we can clean the coop daily!

 

[DobieLover]

The first thing you are in desperate need of is ventilation. You need to shoot for 1 sq ft of year round ventilation per bird. The easiest place to get some in this coop is to cut the siding off at the tie plates to open up the space between the rafters. Then attach 1/2" hardware cloth to secure the areas and add a trim board to cover the cuts.
I would add some more top hinged windows, backed with 1/2" HC, to the coop for summer ventilation.
You can add little top hinged doors backed with 1/2" hardware cloth near the bottom for entrance level ventilation.
You also want 4 sq ft of floor space per bird. What is your floor space? It might be a bit tight for the number of birds you have.
Your birds look fully feathered. Why is there a heat lamp in there? It's a major fire hazard and completely unnecessary at this point. It can actually prevent proper acclimatization of the birds to the colder temps.
What is the central wall in the coop? I'm not sure why that is there. It shouldn't be required structurally on a mono-pitch roof building. The two load bearing walls should be more than adequate support on that short span.
You need to consider the space the birds need to maneuver to get up to and off of the roosts without smashing into the roosts.
Also, roosts should be placed a minimum of 1' away from the walls and adjacent roosts so that the birds don't poop all over the walls and each other.
You want to shoot for 1 linear foot of roost space per bird.
You can use 2x4s or about 2.5-3" diameter natural branches for roosts.
That post in the middle is just odd.
P.S. - the chicken wire around the bottom isn't going to keep rodents or other digging predators out. It's VERY flimsy stuff and easily torn. Especially after it's been exposed to the elements for a bit of time.

 

[jthornton]

I use a 2x4 but not like most, I round the edge and turn it on edge. Watching my neighbors chickens roost on tree branches that are round instead of other flat objects nearby gave me the inspiration to build like that. The tray underneath has 1/2" of Sweet PDZ so cleanup takes only a minute.



This is Betty Boop and she has to ride in my arm every morning while I rake the PDZ.

JT

 

[Folly's place]

I use saplings or tree limbs, bark on, from 2.5" to 4" diameter. Some of my birds roost up on the rafters, which are 4" diameter fence posts in the old coop section, and 2"x 10" in the new run area.
There's a ladder roost in one section of the coop too. Lots of choices, many different heights, and way more than 1' per bird!!!
And @DobieLover is so right about your coop! Windows and ventilation desperately needed.
Mary

 

[630004]

I do like the idea of the platforms. Ours is a work in progress that we have been cleaning out from the previous owners. The chicken door arrives on Friday and then I will reattach the metal mesh run. The chickensare going to be primarily "outside" chickens, with the coop being available for shelter.

Ventilation is going to be increasing the gap under the soffits and putting some weather-proof screens on each end. I have no plans for putting windows in at this time.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

I see you need to ventilate that coop, like a lot.... And why is there a heat lamp out there?
2x4 flat side up for roosts, but you really need to fix the issues with their housing before getting birds.

 

[630004]

We ended up doing a flat 2x4. They are thriving.

 

[Saltlifexo95]

I use a 2x4 but not like most, I round the edge and turn it on edge. Watching my neighbors chickens roost on tree branches that are round instead of other flat objects nearby gave me the inspiration to build like that. The tray underneath has 1/2" of Sweet PDZ so cleanup takes only a minute.
View attachment 2886655

This is Betty Boop and she has to ride in my arm every morning while I rake the PDZ.

JT

Love this set up!! Do you toss the poop or use it for compost?