How much space between roosting bars for poo to drop through?

[Beekissed]

As high off the surface of the floor as they can get. To them, the floor is a place for a predator to stand, jump up and snatch them. They will roost in the trees if allowed! Being in a high coop means nothing to them, as they cannot reason that the box in which they are sleeping is X amount of feet off the ground. They sleep where they feel safest. For a bird, that is in a "tree".

 

[citychics]

off the coop floor...

 

[cmommyrun]

Thanks for the info...I'm going to be converting my nest boxes from a mid height shelf to the ground and putting in roost poles like you described. They roost way to long in the boxes and we end up taking them out! I notice they won't soil in the nest boxes on the ground and I like things cleaner in general lol.

 

[Meld75]

How far apart and at what height should roosting bars be for 8 hens? How much space per bird?

 

[NYSAHMof3]

So what I am gathering from most is you need 12" per bird? Also you need roosts to be above nesting boxes? 12-18" spread per roost and 12" height difference for ladder style? Poop board undernearth that is something cleanable (ie. laminate surface)? Any other thoughts? What about my chicks when they first go in, they are 8 weeks and won't be able to reach 36" off floor? Should we make a temporary ladder?