How high can heavies be expected to jump/fly?

[debid]

I'm designing my coop layout and want to mount the next boxes inside the coop and up high enough that the floor space underneath them is usable. I'm planning on having a 1x4 in front of the boxes to land on but wasn't sure if I'd need to install a ladder if that was up, say, 24" from the floor? Most of the flock will be medium but I want a couple of Sussex and Marans in the mix and certainly don't want any eggs on the floor!

 

[patandchickens]

For whatever it's worth (one lone data point

) my sussexes' nestboxes are maybe 2' above the ground and they were not so happy about using them til I put a little short ladder up to them. (It is literally the end cut off an elderly wooden ladder).

Caveat: it is possible that the problem was not so much the height per se as not wanting to flap up and have to land in the opening atop the 3/4" plywood used as a front lip on the boxes, so it is POSSIBLE I could have equally well fixed it by putting a piece of 2x4 a few inches out in front of the nestboxes for them to use as a landing/departure perch. It was just structurally easier in my setup to do the ladder, so I never tried the other method but would not be surprised if it'd have worked as well.

I guess it's a judgement call which way to try it initially, and I am not sure which way I'd go in your shoes (maybe lean towards ladder if these are not-yet-laying pullets, just so's not to encourage bad habits?) but I am also not sure it makes a huge difference as long as you keep an eye on how it goes and adapt accordingly

JME, good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[7L Farm]

Quote:
Here's my boxs. There working fine.

3768_p7250090.jpg[/img] Here's some more boxs in my new coop.