Hello, new here and new to chickens.

[beany_bot]

Thanks folks. I'll add a decent hardware cloth windows at the top, on the other side from the prevailing wind.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ok, so this is what I'm going with. The roosts are 8 and 16 inches. If I find them all on the top roost I'll put an oven higher one on the right side. To give them options. The top bar there only has 9 inches clearance to the wall though.

Do you think the boxes would benefit from curtains?

Is that the height they're going to be mounted at? They're too low, the nest is almost higher. I am also concerned about the 9" clearance to the wall, that's probably going to be tight when they get older and larger. With just 3 birds, and assuming you have at least 3' in width there, I'd run a single roost a bit further away from the wall and slightly higher up.

Curtains can be added later if you find its needed, I've never bothered.

Agreed that the windows would be a great idea, both for ventilation and natural light. The coop needs to be bright enough at dusk for them to see well enough to navigate.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Is that the height they're going to be mounted at? They're too low,

Yep, I missed that. You only need one roost hung at least 24" off the floor and 12" from the wall. No need for different roost heights usually.

 

[beany_bot]

Totally appriciate the roost height input but I'm really confused. I've spent literal hours and hours googling roost heights for Buff orpingtons and the vast majority of owners say keep them low or they wont use them and could even damage their hips jumping down. ive seen people say 6 / 9 / 12, no more than 20 inches. But certainly the concesus is for BO's the roost need to be much lower than "typical".

 

[StinkyAcres]

Totally appriciate the roost height input but I'm really confused. I've spent literal hours and hours googling roost heights for Buff orpingtons and the vast majority of owners say keep them low or they wont use them and could even damage their hips jumping down. ive seen people say 6 / 9 / 12 inches. But certainly the concesus is for BO's the roost need to be much lower than "typical".

I have large breeds (Brahmas and a large and old Plymouth Rock) and my roosts are around 30". I don't blame you for wanting to play it safe. I certainly wouldn't go any higher than 30". It's okay if you want to try it at 16". If they start roosting in the nest boxes you can raise the roost. The lower roost may cause problems as it is hard and they will jump down from the upper roost onto it then down to the floor. I think it's better for them to jump down straight onto the floor covered with a thick layer of fluffy bedding. I'd also still move the roost farther from the wall - you will get poop all over the wall at that distance.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've seen those posts. I often wonder how many have actually had Buff Orps (or any other breed often mentioned as having these problems) instead of just repeating something they read. And I wonder how they managed them. How they manage them can make a difference.

My Buff Orps were hatchery quality, not show quality. Mine won't grow that big, they don't have those genetics. I did not feed them an extra high protein diet after they were feathered out around 5 weeks so they did not grow extra large, large enough to hurt themselves when they hop/fly down. When they get down they fly down, not just jump so they are not totally in free fall. Mine can also fly up to my roosts, they do not need ramps.

I have no doubt that some people have had chickens injured when they hop down. I suspect these are mostly people that feed them as if they were show birds or meat birds. They do need sufficient room to fly down so they don't bang into things and injure themselves that way. The way I raise mine I don't have those issues but some people do.

 

[ChaosMom]

We have three 10-week-old pullets, growing visibly, one a BO. Their coop is ~2 feet above the run litter with a “landing platform” and currently no ramp. The other two (Barred Rock and Easter Egger) fly on and off without a problem. The BO flaps anxiously, working up her courage, and generally uses an overturned bucket or a tree branch as an intermediate step.

She was hatched the same day as the other two and not overweight. Orps gonna orp, I guess.

 

[Golden Comet Mama]

Is 2 nesting boxes enough for 3 Orpingtons?

any thoughts really appriciated!

We have 6 hens that share 5 nest boxes and they all only use the same nest box every day. So 2 nesting boxes for 3 hens is PLENTY

 

[ChaosMom]

We have 6 hens that share 5 nest boxes and they all only use the same nest box every day. So 2 nesting boxes for 3 hens is PLENTY

The one they use + the one they don’t use!

 

[beany_bot]

Thanks all, will rejig the layout and get back to you. I've installed a big vent now on the leeward side.

Question about age.
I've been offered three BO girls but are 16 weeks old. They wont have been handled much. These birds are primarily "pets" for my two daughters. Would we be better going younger? or will they be OK?