Confused about roosts!

[Cluckn Crazy]

Here's mine... but the girls are too little to use them yet. Total coop hight is about 5 1/2' if that helps. We've also built a ramp up, along the window. Currently they're on roosts 8" off the floor.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
I had thought that same configuration for mine too.


Our coop was a pre-fab unit and we added the droppings board under the roosts. The nesting boxes are across from it, but could very well have been built underneath the droppings board. While we did raise the height of the roosts when we added the droppings board, we really didn't have the option to move them out further from the back wall, which, in my opinion, are way too close. They manage

The droppings board is the best idea I've ever come across in chicken waste management and maintaining a clean coop. It saves on shavings too. I scrape it out once each morning and dump the droppings into our compost heap. The shavings need to be changed only rarely as my chickens only sleep in the coop and they don't get very dirty. The droppings board is removable for the semi-annual deep cleaning.

Here's our roost set up:

I have utilized the space underneath the droppings board as a maternity ward for my broody and her chicks. It worked like a dream!

 

[LynneP]

There are some lovely coops in those pics! Lucky hens...we're building a second coop and intend to use a platform only instead of roosts, after discovering that our birds were using the roosts for 'gossip and groom' sessions, then flying to the platform to sleep. I think it has to do with cold climate (fewer drafts and huggling together on the platforms). I'll post a pic on this page when it's done:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=7693-our-second-coop

 

[PepsNick]

1. Staggered, ladder style or all at the same height roosts? Ladder style
2. Two feet or lower or three to four feet high for heavy breeds? 2-3, heavier birds can hurt themelves and get bumblefoot from jumping down from high roosts.
3. Droppings boards, container to catch poop, or deep litter under roosts? sure!
4. Nest boxes or feed/water under drippings board if used? NO
5. Twelve inches or eighteen for distance from horizantal wall? Doesn't really matter.

 

[kyrose]

my kids get a little bit of everything.i have a latter roost and an actual later.they also have some that are straight across and at different hieghts from maybe 6 ins. off the ground to about 5 ft.i dont like poop boards,i do deep litter,but i did have to put in 1 poop board because 4 of my silkies have decided to make their beds under the roost,i got tired of picking the poo off of them.

 

[Shirlee55]

My girls are quite happy on tree limbs shoved in the chain link of the dog kennel.

 

[Beekissed]

Its really all a matter of preference. I used to have a ladder configuration but now I have some straight across and a few diagonal in the corners that are even with the majority of the cross beams and some in the corners that are higher. The height ranges from about 4.5 ft. to about 6 ft. I like them to have some variety, though I think they really liked the ladder better....I just had to change it to make more room in the coop.

I don't have a drop board as I use the deep litter method and it really absorbs all droppings well and I get to keep this mix for my gardens in the spring.

I use round roosts that are just the right size for chickens to walk upon and to grasp as their knees are bent. These are repurposed, very large beanpoles and limbs. And, no, round roosts do not lead to cold toes...their feathers cover their feet quite nicely when they are roosted.

They only need to be far away from the wall enough to allow a bird to roost comfortably without being cramped and they need to be higher than your nests boxes.