Need advice about roost building

[FarmerCluck]

We are gradually making progress on our coop. One problem that I am wanting advice about is that there will be a shelf in the back of the coop about 39 inches above the floor. This shelf was already there when we started our shed renovation and I'm planning to use it to store supplies. However, it recently occured to me that the hens may want to roost on the shelf instead of their roost if the shelf is higher. Should I make the roost higher than the shelf? Lower than the shelf? Any suggestions for modifications to the shelf so that they won't fly up and roost (and poop) on it? Below is a photo of the interior so you can see the back wall and where the shelf will be relative to the rest of the space. Thanks for any advice you have. Oh..........and since you're looking at the coop, any suggestions about where to place the roost and nesting boxes would be appreciated as well. We will have 5 hens in the space. It is approximately 8X8 feet inside.

 

[Judy]

They will get on the shelf whether it is higher or lower than the roost, maybe not to sleep, but they will check it out, and poop on it. You might consider some simple cabinet doors, maybe a simple wood frame covered in chicken wire, to cover the space. You could make a single "door" and hinge it at the top; just rig up a hook and eye on the ceiling to hold it open.

For 5 hens you only need one nest box and less than 5' of roost space; you can put them both on one solid wall and give them lots of space in the coop for food, water and moving around. I'd build one nest box, but a bit on the wide side, maybe 18", in case two want to get in at once.

 

[FarmerCluck]

Thanks! That's good advice. I hadn't thought about making a door to "cover" the shelf, but it sounds doable. Thanks also for your other suggestions. I appreciate it!