Doghouse recycling has begun! Questions?

[Circe]

Ok, we've started work on the coop (former doghouse) and run. Dh has lifted it off the ground and is fashioning a door for it, as I type.

Now, roosting . . .

What do hens roost on? (Is this a stupid question?) How high up should it be? How do they get up there? Will they know this or will I have to train them? (they are 4mos old)

I'm sure I'll be back with more. Thanks for entertaining my newness!

 

[gunnarmcc]

they can roost on anything branch like you will see everything from 2x4's to old trees stripped of bark and put in the coop. i use a 2x4 laid wide side down and my lowest perch is 18 inches my other is 24

 

[WKYChick]

here is our roost bars, people make them out of many things, I have even seen old ladder rungs

I will run out and get measurements on height difference, we found these long strips of wood and we stair stepped them, I am working on the nest boxes, your nest boxes need to be lower than your roost bars to discourage the chickens from sleeping in them at night

Another view of the roost bars, the guineas are enjoying the top one

I went out and measured the roost, the 1st one the lowest one is 15 inches off the ground and the 2nd roost the highest one is 24 inches, we did our roost this way due to the fact we have heavier hens and they can still get up to roost with no problems

 

[Circe]

Do I need a ladder for them to get to the roosts?

 

[ThinkingChickens]

Probably not. The chickens are quite the jumpers. You can always do roosting bars of varying heights.