How long should roots be for 12 chickens?

[eggcited2]

Ok, here are the roost figures at this time: the roost will be made of 2x4 lumber (with the 4 inch side up for them to set on). How long do the 2x4's need to be. Not how high, nor how far away from the walls, but how long for them to set on. Four feet long per perch, six feet long per perch, or what? I have 11 chickens: wellsummer, red star, cuckoo marans, partridge rock. One of them is a roo and all rest pullets.

The first roost height will be 21 inches tall and 24 inches out from the wall.

The second roost will be 36 inches tall and 18 inches out from the wall.

See crude drawing below:

l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l---------------18" out from wall
l ^
l 36 inches tall
l
l -------------------------- 24 inches out from wall
l ^
l 21 inches tall
l__________________________________________________ floor of chicken house

 

[bigstack]

I just figure 12-16 inches per bird depending on breed. Then add an extra roost or two for future use and free choice.

Good Luck and God Bless!

 

[Heather08]

no matter how big you make it they are going to roost on about 3 inches of space lol..they are silly mine all clump up in a big chicken ball on the roost.

 

[bigstack]

OH yeah! and I love the 2 chickens and 9 eggs in 1 nest box out of 16! LOL

 

[Orchid]

Quote:
LOL - mine too!

 

[briteday]

I would use two 8' long 2x4's. That gives them 16 feet which I find sufficient for 20 birds currently. But at least it gives everyone choices and the crowding / feather picking shouldn't be a problem.

 

[sunflowerenvy]

i used 3 2x4 8ftlong mine is wall to wall 2 of them are about 6 ft and part 2ft and 1 4ft high off the floor for my tens birds 7 birds sit up on the 2 6ft off the ground and my other 3 birds sit on the 4ft high perch. i belive that my BO cannot fly to 6ft rooster you can see my perches on my page

 

[MakNugget]

Quote:
Exactly. Last night they all had to be in The Spot. The RIR wasn't budging, and the BA wanted it so her solution was to put one foot on the back of the RIR and slowly add weight until she shuffled enough to get the other foot in place.

My crude set up below. I have 2.5 roosts, all 2x4's laying flat at different heights, and run the dimensions of the coop which is roughly 5x4'. The top most is the highest where they like to sleep during the night. The second roost is lower, perpendicular to the top, and I have the half roost even lower, parallel to the second. During they day they take naps on the second roost, and take occasional breaks on the half roost. The top roost is sometimes a catwalk since it sits along the window.

S = where they like to sit
+ = ramp

SSSSSS-----------------
+
!
!
!
! ++++ S
S S
S S
! S

 

[wsdareme]

I have 24' of roosts - three 8' 2x6s. And here is how they roost:

Go figure!

 

[flowerfaerie1]

I think our pole is 8 feet long and we have 11 chickens. They all squeeze up there even though there is another pole to roost on a little lower. Since the girls have been getting heavier and heavier, their jumping up there loosened the nail on either side and started to allow the pole to turn. Nothing is funnier than them all getting settled, one more gets up and sets the pole turning - bwaaaakk!!! LOL, feathers a flying! It was also bowing heavily in the middle. My husband finally fixed it and put a supporting pole in the middle. No more spinning birds, but I can still laugh about it.