Do I need more Roosting spots??

[Fancypants1]

Do I need to add more roosting post for them? I only have them in front of the nesting boxes which are 2 feet off the ground. Should they be above the nesting boxes? The coop is about 6 feet high to the point of the roof? I have 7 hens going in it.

 

[donrae]

It looks like you have enough linear feet of roost space, but I'd configure it differently. From my experience no birds are going to want to roost that low to the ground (lower roost) and they'll go from the top roost to the edge of the nest box and perch there. Good rule of thumb is the roosts are the highest thing in the coop, and as near the ceiling as possible while still leaving room for the bird--about 18 inches is good, but I have birds that squish themselves into a spot smaller than a foot.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I think you do. I think there is a pretty good chance they will sleep on top of the top nests instead of on the roosts since it is higher. You might want to block that area off if you don’t want them sleeping up there. But if they do sleep lower down, there is a good chance they will sleep in your top nests instead of on that perch in front of them. They like to sleep as high as they can get and those nests are as high as the perch.

Even if they sleep on that perch, can they poop in the nests, either on that level or the nests lower down?

 

[KSAntiquer]

I would put the roosts on the other wall away from the nesting boxes as they poop lots on the roosts. This will keep the nesting boxes and the roosts separate. You can build a simple ladder roost and prop it on the wall.
Just a suggestion.

 

[Fancypants1]

The roosts around about 12 inches away from the nesting boxes so I don't think they will be able to poop in the nests. Should I remove the nesting boxes from the wall and put them on the floor (removing the lower roost completely)? Will they walk into the nesting boxes or do they need to "jump in"? The first 2 boxes are about 12 inches from the floor and then the second set are 12 inches above those.

It looks like you have enough linear feet of roost space, but I'd configure it differently. From my experience no birds are going to want to roost that low to the ground (lower roost) and they'll go from the top roost to the edge of the nest box and perch there. Good rule of thumb is the roosts are the highest thing in the coop, and as near the ceiling as possible while still leaving room for the bird--about 18 inches is good, but I have birds that squish themselves into a spot smaller than a foot.

The ceiling is about 2 - 3 feet above the top of the boxes so we have plenty of room above the top nests. Should I run a roost from just below the window to the other side of the coop or should I run it above the window?

 

[Fancypants1]

I would put the roosts on the other wall away from the nesting boxes as they poop lots on the roosts. This will keep the nesting boxes and the roosts separate. You can build a simple ladder roost and prop it on the wall.
Just a suggestion.

That is a great suggestion - that way I can add a few different heights for them to choose from!