Keeping Hens From Roosting in Nest Box

[Blue Tiger]

Are you altering those coops for more space? You mentioned having roosts at head height but they're not even 4 1/2' tall. Also not sure how you calculated that there's 4 sq ft per bird inside those. The coop itself is what they're calling the "hutch area" which is 34.4 x 36.4, not quite 9 sq ft. Good for 2 birds each.

You could alter them so the entire unit serves as a coop but if that's the case I'd recommend adding your own nest boxes at floor height or just above that, which gives you plenty of room to put a roost lengthwise that sits up higher to encourage birds to use it.

You have issues will small coops preventing fair assessment of what I posted. Birds will be confined to them only after dark, therefore space is adequate. Ideal is based on experience, these coops were not indicated as ideal, rather a compromise to do something unique to my interest.

 

[Blue Tiger]

Part of area calculated for use includes roost area with manure collect sheet in upper level. Out of sight, out of mind and different elevation as provided by exterior roost. There has been some testing leading to how this is to be done. Initial ask was just to see what other options have been considered by others, as they can serve as backup plans.

Exterior roost.

Pullets are to roost on two pieces of wood. May make so they access from below at first. Then put in the sheet to force coming and going through door on right.

The nests.

Nest covered by a piece of plywood. Could make piece bigger to increase pitch

The floor pans are to be installed only when it is dark. They will have wax paper to collect manure produced only when roosting.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you consider those predator-proof enough so you can always leave the pop door open, they will always have use of the entire enclosed area when they are awake. And if you let them range outside every day instead of leaving them locked in that much of the time when they are awake you should have enough space. That may work fine most of the year but winter in Missouri may test that plan.

The way I understand it you are not planning you are not expecting them to sleep on that outside roost in the run. You may find that they don;t always do what you plan. Good luck with that.

To your question about how to raise the roosts inside the enclosed coop section. I think I'd want them to run the same way they do now to minimize the chance of them pooping in the nests. Those nest covers may or may not be necessary. On the wall side just do what was done, Screw in a support to the wall to support that end of the roost. On the nest side drop a support from above. I don't know what your framing in the roof looks like, can you drop something from that framing? Or put in a high horizontal that you can drop a vertical from.

You could build a frame in there and support the raised roosts from below, but I think in that tight space you will have enough trouble with access for cleaning. That would make it worse.

I personally think you are making too much daily work for yourself but that's for you to work through. Good luck.

 

[Blue Tiger]

If you consider those predator-proof enough so you can always leave the pop door open, they will always have use of the entire enclosed area when they are awake. And if you let them range outside every day instead of leaving them locked in that much of the time when they are awake you should have enough space. That may work fine most of the year but winter in Missouri may test that plan.

The way I understand it you are not planning you are not expecting them to sleep on that outside roost in the run. You may find that they don;t always do what you plan. Good luck with that.

To your question about how to raise the roosts inside the enclosed coop section. I think I'd want them to run the same way they do now to minimize the chance of them pooping in the nests. Those nest covers may or may not be necessary. On the wall side just do what was done, Screw in a support to the wall to support that end of the roost. On the nest side drop a support from above. I don't know what your framing in the roof looks like, can you drop something from that framing? Or put in a high horizontal that you can drop a vertical from.

You could build a frame in there and support the raised roosts from below, but I think in that tight space you will have enough trouble with access for cleaning. That would make it worse.

I personally think you are making too much daily work for yourself but that's for you to work through. Good luck.

This effort is a for a fecal collection experiment using small groups of chickens simulating a backyard setting with electric poultry netting surrounding everything. Extra work expected, as manure to collected and measured daily. The manure even will be dried. Daytime feces less practical to collect clean and contains a fair amount of cecal manure that complicates things for now. No ask made by me on how to raise roost, rather just on what approaches are out there on how to keep pullets from roosting in nest boxes so I can explore those options if current planned approach does not pan out.

 

[Uncle Rhino]

Roosts at same level as nest with only inches between roost and nest. The coops each have two roost poles that are about 3 feet long. Coops are 3 foot wide and 8 foot and with another roost in run part as big as the regular roost near nest. The chickens will be in coop probably at night and when laying eggs when they do need so much room. That means they have a little over 4 square foot per chicken just to sleep and lay eggs.

The roost are not kind you can move.

What I did was use my drill and 1/2 inch rebar cut to go from each side. Put two in small coops from TSC, more in the larger TSC Coops all are above the nesting boxes. During the day they have 14 acres to range on.Building my first self made coop. 8'w X16'l X 10ft high. Plan on 24 nesting boxes, 12 roosting bars 7ft 10" long with a center support of course this subject change as I go. I used 12X12 commercial floor tiles on the coop floor. This will make cleanup easier I hope. We normally get a lot rain here. If it gets to cold I have propane catalytic heaters to keep them warm. When this done next coop is going to be 24' X 45' X 12' high my old garage repurposed once new shop is built.

 

[Blue Tiger]

Six of the speckled suzzex pullets can fit on roost. Will still reduce number to 4 just make sure they have ample room when going to roost.

The coops are lined up all in same area.

The fence is up, but not juiced. Feed is stored outside coops at night until fence works.

 

[Blue Tiger]

 

[aart]

View attachment 1962897

I see you have the nests covered.

Did you raise the roosts at all?
Is that mesh I see on the roosts?

Here's an excellent modification to that kind of coop:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-in-nest-boxes.1134399/page-2#post-17749535

 

[Blue Tiger]

I see you have the nests covered.

Did you raise the roosts at all?
Is that mesh I see on the roosts?

Here's an excellent modification to that kind of coop:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-in-nest-boxes.1134399/page-2#post-17749535

Roost are currently at factory height just above where poop collection board will be during normal operation.

The approach you linked may be followed once birds roosting consistently up. Will round up materials needed to elevate roosts as shown. Even though linear roost capacity is enough for 6 standard sized pullets / hens, they will have a challenging time accessing the roost without complications related to pecking order or accidentally knocking each other down. I could also simply lay the poop board on ground below where birds roost. I currently do that in barn where hens roost on either dowels or sawhorses.

Nest covers were devised at time coops were constructed. Not really after eggs yet, especially when operating off natural photoperiod with a breed that is not a stellar egg producer. I am after the feces; eggs are just a bonus.

Pullets were still on roost an hour after sun up. Game rooster singly housed in another pen serving as canary was down scratching about looking for feed when I arrived. We have acclimation issues to resolve.

 

[aart]

Is that mesh I see on the roosts?

Did you miss this?