Help with adding a roost

[aart]

I have the same coop and had the same problem! I did not think a ladder roost would work due to the poop tray location.

Here is a thread I have pictures of what I did to change the roosts.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1134399/help-hens-roosting-in-nest-boxes

Overall, this change made the coop work for me, though I find they walk through the poop on the poop board before getting to the egg laying area. This causes previously laid eggs to get poop on them from the chicken feet, YUCK! There is no fixing that!

I also have decided this coop is not large enough for my 4 large birds and am planning on building one starting this weekend! They are pulling/eating feathers and just need more room. My original plan was to use this for sleeping at night and free range during the day. This coop would have been fine for 4 birds only at night, I think. I lost one chicken to a predator and decided I did not want to free range anymore. They are going crazy in the tight quarters

Jenn

Maybe now I'll remember your screen name....I always think of your fantastic upgrade when I see tiny coop roosting issues.

 

[sunnie7]

Here's what I came up with today.... The whole thing is removable so I can still clean it and pull the tray out.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Here's what I came up with today.... The whole thing is removable so I can still clean it and pull the tray out.

That looks Great!!! Happy Chickens!!

 

[fightingbunny]

Do you use the poop board? I use it and found that I had to keep the bedding material out of that area as the opening to slide out the tray is so small. As it is, I usually have to take a twig and poke the poop piles to get them to flatten out enough to pull out.

 

[fightingbunny]

Btw, I think the roosting ladder you made is awesome!! I think that looks a lot better and simpler than what I rigged up.

 

[sunnie7]

Do you use the poop board?  I use it and found that I had to keep the bedding material out of that area as the opening to slide out the tray is so small.  As it is, I usually have to take a twig and poke the poop piles to get them to flatten out enough to pull out.

I have 4 bantams right now. 2 Roos but today I'm supposed to be trading one of my Roos for 2 hens so I'll have 5. I'm worried about them being cramped but they have a secure run that's 12'x3.5' but for most the day they free range in their chain linked area that's 21'x18' and they only go in the coop at night. If the rooster becomes a problem I'll get rid of him. I'm really hoping my husband starts our new coop this summer! I live in southern IN and we do not use any heat source and with as thin as this thing is they all seemed to do fine throughout the winter with just some extra straw.

I've only pulled the tray out twice and completely replaced all the straw and shavings. It's usually just mixed in everywhere since they were sleeping in the next boxes. Once I get them sleeping on the roosts i think I'll only do a very thin layer of shavings and try to rig something up for the nest boxes for the straw to stay in. How do you keep them from moving all the straw from the next boxes? I also might take one piece out and just have one next box to open it up a little more since form what i read they will probably only use one anyways! My chicks are only 4 months old so they aren't laying yet I'm hoping to get this all worked out before they do so I do have poopy eggs!

 

[fightingbunny]

I am not able to pull the tray out if I had any pine shavings on it. It just got stuck or everything skimmed off into the coop below. The shavings in the nest boxes stay pretty good now because of how I attached the brace for the roost poles. it added about three inches as a barrier between the box and the tray.

Wow, I wish i had such a large area to let them out into!! The coop's small run is just so tiny We debated just creating a big secure run for them, but I decided I wanted to do a full rebuild due to the poopy eggs No one likes poopy eggs! If you have bedding material on the tray then you might not get poop on the eggs like mine though. The poop would be mixed in with the bedding and not just glops of it piled up like in my coop. So you probably won't have to change anything now that you have nicer roosts.

 

[sunnie7]

I am not able to pull the tray out if I had any pine shavings on it.  It just got stuck or everything skimmed off into the coop below.  The shavings in the nest boxes stay pretty good now because of how I attached the brace for the roost poles.  it added about three inches as a barrier between the box and the tray.

Wow, I wish i had such a large area to let them out into!!  The coop's small run is just so tiny   We debated just creating a big secure run for them, but I decided I wanted to do a full rebuild due to the poopy eggs   No one likes poopy eggs!  If you have bedding material on the tray then you might not get poop on the eggs like mine though.  The poop would be mixed in with the bedding and not just glops of it piled up like in my coop.  So you probably won't have to change anything now that you have nicer roosts. 

What about a really thin layer of sand? That might work.

 

[fightingbunny]

I actually like using the tray just the way it is. I pull it out, tip it over the compost heap and just scrape any poop off and slide it back in. It is really easy to use. I am not sure I like the idea of having to hand scoop out individual poops. Does that take a long time?

 

[sunnie7]

I actually like using the tray just the way it is.  I pull it out, tip it over the compost heap and just scrape any poop off and slide it back in.  It is really easy to use.  I am not sure I like the idea of having to hand scoop out individual poops.  Does that take a long time?

I don't scoop out but maybe once every couple weeks I just turn the shavings every morning with a litter scoop. Kinda more a deep liter method and then I'll scoop everything out every 2-3 months. Takes about 10mins. Once mine start using the roost though I might try the sand with the liter scoop and just sift the poop out. I just don't want them stepping all in it. Mine are silkies and Cochins so with their feathered feet that's be pretty messy!