How much head room do chooks need on the roost?

[Chocobo]

Quote:
I am curious about the answer to this as well.

 

[EnonChickenDaddy]

The wide side up and down. They like to sleep with their feet flat...not like a typical bird with their feet wrapped around a branch.

 

[EnonChickenDaddy]

Especially when it is cold, with their feet flat they can keep them warm.

 

[bryan99705]

Very nice little coop & run set up

Try shrinking the nest box entrances by stapling a piece of cardboard over the front and leaving entrance holes about 6 - 7" round. Then put up your roost rod or branch that is about a chicken's heigth from the ceiling. Make sure the roost rod is secure and does NOT roll or move on them, it makes them nervous. This combination will allow the boxes to still be used but less desirable to roost in than the nicer roost rod that is higher up. (Maybe along the back wall from over the back nest box to over the entrance)

A little note....add some more ventilation the the coop and nest boxes. Something you can cover in the winter against drafts.

 

[Nonny]

Quote:
Thanks for the tips Bryan.... today I got my staplegun back from a friend so I've partially covered the nestbox entrances with cardboard, and found a leftover fence paling to cut down and make a roost (I think it's about 4" x 1"), and I've put it between the entrance and nest boxes, although it seems a bit high still as I had to attach it to the frame above them. I can't lower it because there's nothing else to attach it to, but one of the girls kindly volunteered

to be put on it so I could check her head room and it didn't seem too bad. I guess the locatoin of droppings in the morning will tell me if they used it or not.

I'm not sure about the ventilation, as we leave the little door open 24/7 so they can access the attached run, which means they get air coming in through that small door, as well as the two holes at the top of the wall. Would that not be enough?