Coop in Progress...looking for suggestions

[dltolle]

This thread is cracking me up!

Thanks for the laughs...

 

[dltolle]

I have a curtain dowel, a flat 4 inch board and the rafters of the coop (which are 2x4's) and my chickens roost on all of them. I also have dish pans for nest boxes and there are two chickens that claim that spot every night. My rooster has never roosted, he huddles on the floor with two of his favorite chicks. I think it's a personal preference (the chickens!) and they will figure out where they like to roost, just give them a few options.

I think I do have one dowel that is curtain rod sized. Maybe we'll try that one and see if it works. I'm just realizing that the smaller ones, towel rack sized, won't be holding a full sized chicken comfortably.

 

[ECBW]

I use dimensional lumber in the coop and tree branches in the run. They perch fine either way.

 

[JackE]

So we can agree to disagree. If they are ground birds why do we give them roosts? Isn't in their DNA to get up off the ground to avoid predators? Much like a wild turkey which is predominately a ground bird and only spends night in a tree on roost. I suppose its all a matter of opinion.

I just try to duplicate to what their natural instincts are.

I guess we can do that. But in trying to "Duplicate what their natural instincts are." Try to imagine the waaaaaaay back days of the past, when chickens were running wild in the woodlands of old. I don't think it was their instinct to walk up a little ramp into a purpose built chickens house either. But times change, and the need for them to roost their big behinds on a little branch are over, give them the BigComfortableBoard.
Jack

 

[Red Barn Farms]

All looks nice but I agree with others. A 2 x 4 stud with the flat side up would be a much better idea as a roosting area. An idea I use which I house my chickens inside a barn so they have plenty of room. Their indoor areas is 12 x 24 foot. I added a fallen tree large tree which has 4 smaller branches extending from it. They seem to love sitting on this. It's only three foot off the ground too. So just another idea.

 

[thatstevesmith]

I put a 1x4 across the top of mine, and they love that...they plop their fat butts on it and you can see an overhang of chicken on either side...