In building stage rookie questions.

[vajjslayer09]

My coop is 12x12 7 foot tall. Used wooden garage doors as one wall and used cherry lumber for other wall. Haven't built boxes or anything inside yet. Getting 15 hens next week. So what are some things not to forget lol roost height? How many boxes? How high from ground? Any comments? Thanks

 

[Hholly]

I made a ladder-type roost from 2x3s that has a bottom rung at about 3 feet up and a top rung at about 4 and 1/2 feet. My chickens used it the first night. I've seen that some people have roosts that are way higher too.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! Are these adult hens, and what breeds? Pictures would help too. Cherry is pretty upscale, wow!

I think four boxes will be plenty, or five if there's room. Mine are plastic 'egg crates' on a shelf with a feed bag and shavings and hay as bedding. Ventilated and easy to clean out. My roosts are saplings or large branches, bark on, 2" to 4" diameter. Also the birds roost on 4" fence post rafters eight feet high. I do have a ladder type roost in the other section of the coop, where the babies are raised; it gets them to roost earlier, and they eventually prefer the roosts three feet high or higher. My nest boxes are about two ft. up, so there's floor space under the row. My coop is functional, not pretty. It needs paint and stain (soon!). Mary

 

[Emma Miriam]

Hi! As for roosts, most people seem to use either branches or 2x4s. Since you're in Ohio, many recommend using 2x4s with the 4 inch side facing up so birds can cover their feet in the winter and prevent frostbite. With that many birds, a ladder type roost would probably be easiest. Do you have ventilation up high in the eaves? (If not, I highly recommend it!) Make sure your highest roost is 2 feet below those ventilation holes so that breezes don't blow directly on your chickens in the winter. Any lower ventilation that you have should be able to be opened for summer and closed (or partially closed) for winter. Ventilation is SUPER important!!

So, roosts: 2 feet or more below eave ventilation. Also, 12-18 inches from the wall, or your chickens might be pooping on the walls! Roost height can be anywhere from 1 foot above ground to 4 or 5 feet. The important thing is that they are higher than your nesting boxes, or else hens will sleep in the boxes. 2.5-3 feet seems pretty average for roost height, though you can go much higher than that if you don't have heavy breeds. As for nest boxes, if you make them 18+ inches off the ground, your birds can walk under them and you won't lose any floor space.

That's all I can think of for now...hope that helped! Breeds would help us give you more specific feedback for roosts and such.