I’m overthinking roosts…

[Jfarm123]

Thank you all for the suggestion about the walls! I just finished painting today! I’m going to do 2 roosts as a L on the left side and the back. Maybe a U pattern instead of the L. With dropping boards under them. We’ll see how it looks!

I’m not doing the tarp wall cover with hay due to all the comments about mice… cheaper too!

I’m keeping the full shelf we’re it sits and making divided Nesting boxes with fake grass.

If the roof rafters are a problem I’ll block them off.

Any other additions that I should do!?

 

[mowin]

I'm going to guess they will be roosting in the rafters. Most likely using the roost to get themselves up there. Some inexpensive deer netting will fix that issue. I'd rig the netting so it's easy to remove one side so you can remove cobwebs every now and then.

 

[McChooky]

I think the tarp walls and hay insulation is just going to be a rodent nightmare.

And mites!

 

[Jfarm123]

It’s done!!! Thank you everyone so much!!!!

I did roost all around I might do a small ladder from the middle of the shelves to the floor. Idk yet I want to encourage them to go on the roosts.

Question
How is the roost in front of the boxes and does there need to be a wall behind the boxes? And comments and suggestions would be nice!

 

[mowin]

I'd put a ramp up to the nest boxes. It will give them easier access to the other roost. I have backs on my nest boxes. Helps keep the nest materials in the box.

 

[rosemarythyme]

does there need to be a wall behind the boxes?

Technically no, but you'd want enough of something to keep nesting material and eggs securely inside the nest. The back of my boxes is just a half wall, I ran out of plywood, but inadvertently it works better like this for me, as it provides ventilation to the nest boxes on hotter days, and keeps the nest box body weight down as mine is removable for cleaning.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Why the plastic under the bedding?

 

[McChooky]

Why the plastic under the bedding?

Using plastic or vinyl provides a moisture barrier between the bedding and wood floor.