? for heavy breed owners

[deek]

My husband and I started building a coop prior to deciding on the breed. I now know that we will have a heavy breed.

I read in another post that, in an effort to prevent injury, the roosts should be placed 18" preliminarily. Are the nesting boxes then on the ground or close to it?

We have a problem as our nesting boxes, set at an 18" entrance, are too high and our roosts would also be too high.

Please advise specifically the nesting box height for the future adult birds and the height of the roosts.

Thank you!

 

[deek]

Even if you made approximate suggestions.

 

[applegal]

My nest boxes are mounted on the wall maybe 2 feet off the ground. I have some heavy breeds, Orps and Australorps that have no problem getting up there. We do have a roost mounted in front of the boxes to catch dirt and such, which helps keep the boxes cleaner. When one of my girls had an injured foot, I placed a straw bale in front of the boxes/roost so she could get up and down a bit easier. I'm sorry I don't have an exact measurement for you. I think I would avoid putting the boxes on the floor, you may get girls sitting on top or hiding and hanging out in them fouling the box. Hope this helps.

 

[This_chicks_place]

Our boxes are about 14 inches or so off the ground with a step rail set about 6 inches from the ground. Roost is about 3 1/2 feet up. We have orps and wyandottes no one ever has a problem getting there.

 

[deek]

Thank you for replying. I think my setup is OK then. The entrance to the nesting boxes is 18" with a bar in front for landing prior to entering. How high are your roosts and did you provide a lower one for them when they were young?

 

[This_chicks_place]

Yes we did have the roosts set up with another bar 1/2 way between the top one and the floor, but that was because we thought they needed the space for sleeping. Turns out they all squish themselves onto the top roost everynight anyway.

So we took the lower 2x4 out and replaced it with a poo board and now cleaning is MUCH easier too! The roost is about 3 1/2 feet of the ground. If you look at my avatar the roost is set at the front window so they can look out if they want.

 

[bj taylor]

i have heavy breeds. i made the structural error of putting my nest boxes higher than my roost & the roost was too small for their big frames. i still haven't fixed this. i'm hoping the world will leave me alone tomorrow so i can work on this.

 

[deek]

Oh dear, more to worry about. How big should the boxes be given their large frame?

 

[This_chicks_place]

Oh dear, more to worry about. How big should the boxes be given their large frame?

Ours are 14x14 and I can tell you our Orpington rooster is HUGE and he occasionally will climb up in and he fits just fine. He likes to remind his girls that this is the "safe place" I guess!

 

[deek]

Whew! OK, didn't make too many mistakes. Our boxes are 14 x 14 accessible from 18" and we have roosts around 3 Ft . Will add a training roost and remove later since I won't use the brooder for too long due to our days/nights getting warmer all the time. (Will use a heat lamp should they want it though.) Now I just need my babies to arrive....the 22nd. This will give me time to electrify the heck out of everything. Thanks to everyone.