Distance between wall and roost

[Sabz]

If I have cornish or orpington chickens (not sure yet), what would need to be the distance between a wall and a roost, in order for the chickens to have enough space to turn around, etc?

I was thinking that 8-10 inches must be enough, but I wanted your advice before I cut the wood


Oh, I am also wondering if it is OK to have a roost above the next boxes? I may not have thought this well, but I don't have a lot of space available for roosts. And I thought more roosts would be best, in case some chickens don't like each other and don't want to share the same roost! So, to be able to place 2-3 roosts, I would probably have to put one just above the next boxes. I wasn't sure if that would make the next less "attractive" or not.

Thanks!

 

[4 the Birds]

If I have cornish or orpington chickens (not sure yet), what would need to be the distance between a wall and a roost, in order for the chickens to have enough space to turn around, etc?

I was thinking that 8-10 inches must be enough, but I wanted your advice before I cut the wood


Oh, I am also wondering if it is OK to have a roost above the next boxes? I may not have thought this well, but I don't have a lot of space available for roosts. And I thought more roosts would be best, in case some chickens don't like each other and don't want to share the same roost! So, to be able to place 2-3 roosts, I would probably have to put one just above the next boxes. I wasn't sure if that would make the next less "attractive" or not.

Thanks!

I would go more toward the 10 inches and even 12 inches ideally on each side of the bars. If your nest boxes are exterior or the top of boxes are such that the birds cannot get on top, then the roost bar only needs to be higher than the front lip of the nest box. A few of my boxes are actually back behind the roost bar and lower and it works well (no poop boards for that bar). If your layout and design allow, a poop board or bench below the bars will be a wonderful addition. It make cleanup easy and also gives you extra space for feeders or water dispensers below the boards. The more roost bar space that you have the less conflict you will have when the birds roost.

 

[Sabz]

Oh, that helps, thanks.

Yes, poop boards, I will have some if I have enough space.

My nest are not even in the coop, they are attached on the exterior and can be access by "hole" in the coop wall So I think it will be OK for the roosts. Excellent, this reduces my concerns about not having positioned the nest boxes correctly in my coop!

I like you setup, will keep it in mind when building the interior of my coop.

 

[ll]

12 inches of roost per bird
18 inches away from walls = no clean up

 

[Sabz]

Isn't the no cleanup more related to having the poop boards?

Or what, they poop with an angle and it hits the wall if the roost is too close? haha

 

[ll]

If "in range" they'll poop and it'll run down the walls
no cleanup = no wall scrubbing

 

[amandarc]

I need more eyes on my roosts and coop design. Coop is 4x4x6t roosts are 3 ft long on top and 4 ft on the bottom. I'm limited inside, but the top roost is 12" from back wall. I don't think I can have more than 7 hens in there overnight bc there is no more roost space assuming each takes 12" of space. Droppings board is below about 3.5" will have sand, sweet pdz on that later. Would love suggestions, thoughts, etc.

 

[amandarc]

I need more eyes on my roosts and coop design. Coop is 4x4x6t roosts are 3 ft long on top and 4 ft on the bottom. I'm limited inside, but the top roost is 12" from back wall. I don't think I can have more than 7 hens in there overnight bc there is no more roost space assuming each takes 12" of space. Droppings board is below about 3.5" will have sand, sweet pdz on that later. Would love suggestions, thoughts, etc.

actually it's 4ft wide but 6ft deep and high

 

[amandarc]

And ignore the lower red roost, that is coming out, the original builder did that, poor design

 

[Coop de Grass]

If "in range" they'll poop and it'll run down the walls
no cleanup = no wall scrubbing

I wish I had known about this when I first put up the roosts! I remember staring at the wall with horror! I've changed the roosts so many times that I've lost count, but I still forget...I am about to move them yet again, so thank you for the reminder!!!