I'm doing my super earearch, drawng up coop plans, etc. We are not planning on having a very large coop perhaps only 5x4, maybe a foot or so larger. The goal is about 5 bantams, I'm thinking EE and brahma. I was planning on an external nestbox on the east side of the coop, with the east wall of the coop able to swing open for cleaning purpose. Initially, I was hoping to run the roost from north to south, with a poop board underneath, but I wasn't sure if chickens were projectile poopers, and if this roost orientation would result in poop being shot into the nest boxes/ on any eggs/etc. As you can see, I'm apparently very novice in my real life chicken experiences, so my coop design is already reflecting my ignorance! Because the east door (the one with the attached nest boxes) swings open, I can't attach the roost running east to west, unless I rig the roost in a "U" formation from the roof, if that makes sense. Guess I'm hoping to hear that i can run the roost from north to south, poop board underneath, no poop on the eggs in the nest box.... Ps.... I'm typing on my iPhone.... Not exactly BYC page friendly to type this thing out, so sorry for Any errors!
We are not planning on having a very large coop perhaps only 5x4, maybe a foot or so larger. Make it 4 X 8 at least. Most building materials come in those lengths and widths , and you'll do a lot less cutting. Most of the droppings will fall straight down, so just keep the roosts out from the wall foot or so and you should be OK
We have free-standing roosts. We can move them around as needed, and as their preferences change. I can also take them out and hose them down when necessary.
