How long should the roost be for 4 chickens?

[CHIC]

I have a small coop too- 3x4. We have one perch kinda low and another a little higher. Both perches get used althought they do prefer the higher one.

 

[XilverAngel]

we can try, but we're not sure. It would only be able to fit one if we put one in. I think we can, i was thinking about that when i realized how small our roost is....

 

[California Cluckin]

We put in one roost diagnol just above the nest boxes but the ladies all manage to finf their way up to the middle rafter of the roof every night. I've read in several places that for standards 10 inches per bird is adequate and our girls all like to snuggle in close to each other leaving alot of roost unused.

 

[Branderella]

my three girls like to squeeze onto one ladder rung appr. 14in wide and they the fourth girl will be on the next rung down or sleep across the three girls' backs lol

 

[codybird]

I have a roost that is 6.5 feet long. My six hens use 3 feet of one end.

 

[bantamsrus]

Quote:
same thing here

I have two 8 feet roosts--I check on the girls each night and they're always piled at one of each or standing on top of each other! Never on the same side of the roosts though--it's like whoever goes to bed first then everyone piles up next to them.

 

[BroomFarm]

I never thought of it before, but the birds are probably going to be better off huddling together, for warmth, during winter. We have two roosts, in a ladder configuration, about 30" wide. The plan was for 3 of our 6 birds to be on each roost, but the hens decided the lower roost is just not high enough, so they all find spots as far up as they can go.

After reading this post, I have an idea of something I can do to improve the roost...proof that your coop is never "really" done!