Easy Roosting Pole Designs/Plans?

[citychickinthecountry]

Does anyone have any links for easy roosting pole designs or plans? I'd like to build my own as cheaply, but also as safely as possible.

I can either secure the poles in the ground or attach them to the sides of my coop.

 

[Jx2inNC]

Do you have any pictures of the layout of your coop?
That would help and you might get some more specific ideas if so!

I am using porch baluster's and wooden dowel rods as my roost poles.
The balusters are right about the perfect size and I think the 1-1/4" to 2" dowel rods will work great as well.

 

[PhilErvin]

I used fruit tree branches in my run and the girls love them. Inside the coop they love roosting on my roof rafters which are 2x4s.

 

[Jx2inNC]

Quote:
That's a really good idea too.
Do they like the long side or short side of the 2x4s?

I have a dead tree I pushed over that I am going to use to make some roosts out in the run so they can all line up in the sun or something.

 

[MareeZoCool]

I have one suggestion; if your coop is tall enough, make that roosting bar higher than your head when you stand up. Nothing's worse than bumping your head everyday while you're caring for your flock.

 

[citychickinthecountry]

I'm only 5'2", so I don't think that I'll bump my head on much of anything.

 

[mxer]

I cut scrap pieces of 2x4's and 2x2's and cut the ends on a 45 degree angle and screwed them in each corner of the coop. Problem is they fight to all be on the same roost.

 

[gryeyes]

They prefer the wide side up on 2x4 boards. The 4" one.

That said, I have tree branches for two of my roost bars, and a 2x3 for a third. (It was the board used as a rail under the pallet of materials delivered to the house when I built the coop - perfect length: 4 feet, exactly crossed the coop interior!) I have attached the roost bars to the walls of the coop. This picture doesn't show the third 2x3 roost, but should give you some idea.

The branches are as thick as my wrist. My chickens use the lower one as a jumping bar to the higher roosts.

 

[Dagmarvelous]

Tree branches! About an inch or two wide. The chickens like them because they are NOT an even surface and therefore can get a better grip. Plus you are reducing your carbon footprint!!

 

[Chicky Mama]

I used a closet size dowel & a 1x3 and attached em' inside with L shaped shelf brackets(cheapsupplies). 1 is higher than the other for the birds that can't get up on the higher one and a one time shelf inside coop is a good platform piece for afew too. Different sized roosts are I would assume good for chickens feet like a caged bird.