extra roost bars

[Little Fuzzy]

White leghorns are slim chickens and fly well. MY Reds do go over my six foot chain link fence, one did just yesterday, but as they are getting older not so much anymore. I also have an auto door. But I don't let them out till well after sunrise for fear of predators lurking around. Hope all this friendly 'criticism' helps you. I wish I had found this site before I got my chicks.

 

[Calin]

Heh! I would have never thought that.

I still need a bit of help deciding how high to put the roasts

I can either go as high as that line where the plywood is meeting( where the tape is) if It's that high I'll remove the piece of wood for that shelf and have the roost support bar go over it. That would definitely be very high and I'm pretty sure they would like the idea but I'm afraid it's gonna be to close to the Windows in the winter . The roost bar would be just a few inches under. of course I could simply put a piece of 2x6 at the bottom of the window to block any drafts.

The other option would be to have the roost 9 inch under that line so it would go under that shelf for a few inches that I would loose.

 

[Dmontgomery]

They would love it high enough to look out the windows, at least mine do. If you can find some old louvred shutters to fit the window for the winter, would that work for the cold draft?

 

[Calin]

I can close completely, but i was thinking that because ill have so many I'll have to have as many Windows open as possible even during sub zero to get the humidity out
And was afraid of drafts

 

[Dmontgomery]

Don't close it off completely, you still need the ventilation. Just find a way to stop the direct wind blowing on them. I'm still pretty new to all this, but what I think I've read from aart and others is that "draft" refers to air strong enough to cause their feathers to ruffle up and the cold wind get on their skin. I may have misunderstood though. That's why I've been thinking of the louvers. It would redirect the wind so it isn't blowing straight on them. I haven't tried it yet myself, but I'm toying with the idea. Please keep in mind we might only get 2-3 days of freezing weather here all year. It never got below 35 last year. I know y'all have to worry a lot more about the cold than we do.

 

[Calin]

Last year yeah was peachy but 2 y ago we had -30
I did a major revamp I'll post pictures soon

 

[Calin]

Updates:

I've redone the roost bars. They are now at the same height and higher than the shelves. I've also added a tray under the roost. It's not gonna be removable instead I'll use sweet pdz and I'll scoop the poop once in a while.
Shelves where the buckets are are also covered with plywood hanged with hooks from the ceiling.
Waterer is hanged with chain so I can adjust height anytime.

I'm wondering if I should set up a ladder thing to help them get on to the roasts. I know adults can jump high but not sure about youngsters.
And if I am to put a ladder should it go directly to the roosts ( steeper incline) or to the tray below and let them jump from there.

 

[Calin]

 

[ShrekDawg]

Youngsters can jump surprisingly high especially if you're planning on adding shavings or anything to the floor. But that said, a ladder or some intermediate step might be a good idea. I would just make it go to the poop tray. It doesn't look to be too far to the roosts and they should be able to make it.

 

[aart]

Whoa, what a roost board!

Might be hard to reach the back....or use a garden hoe with the handle cut down.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...raphic-gross-poop-pictures/1100#post_13179595

Is that front roost, closest to the door, hanging in the air (so to speak) and not over the poop board?