Guidelines for roosting bar

[aart]

I'd appreciate your input regarding roosts;
how high should they be?
is it preferable to have several different heights?
if so, how many
which should be the longest to accommodate the most birds?

I like them all the same height, maybe one lower for growing chicks, at a height and location that's easy for me to reach them all for exams off the roost at night.
1 foot per bird is a common and pretty accurate 'rule of thumb'.
I have poop boards under my roosts and many roost on the edge of board or on the board itself.

Here's my theory on the 'stack up' aspect to coop design:

Bottom of pop door is best about 8" above floor so bedding doesn't get dragged out of coop.

Nice to have bottom of nests about 18" above bedding to allow use of that floor space under them(doesn't count if your nests are mounted on outside of coop).

Roosts are best about 12" higher than nests so birds won't roost(sleep) in nests and poop in them, if you use poop boards under roosts it will also 'stretch' your floor space.

Upper venting works best as high as possible above roosts so no strong drafts hit roosts in winter...and hot/moist air and ammonia can rise and exit coop.

 

[Outdoorlover]

Post a pic?

Sorry I took so long, hope these pics are good enough.

 

[aart]

View attachment 1075831 View attachment 1075832
Sorry I took so long, hope these pics are good enough.

Looks OK to me.
How far is the roost away from the wall?
Should be at least a foot...looks closer than that.
Not sure that would be why they won't sleep there tho.

How many birds do you have and how long is the roost?
Should have about a foot of length per bird.
If they don't all fit they may prefer to stay with the flock on the floor.

You might try covering the lower part of that window, that might be spooking them.
You might try putting them up there well after dark for a few nights,
see if that changes their habits.

Just some thoughts.

 

[Outdoorlover]

Looks OK to me.
How far is the roost away from the wall?
Should be at least a foot...looks closer than that.
Not sure that would be why they won't sleep there tho.

How many birds do you have and how long is the roost?
Should have about a foot of length per bird.
If they don't all fit they may prefer to stay with the flock on the floor.

You might try covering the lower part of that window, that might be spooking them.
You might try putting them up there well after dark for a few nights,
see if that changes their habits.

Just some thoughts.

I have 4 pullets. The roosting bar is 4' long, it is less than 1' off the wall but I can move it around and try your suggestion
Thanks!