Perches and Nest Boxes

[aart]

This is why I used my own body and capabilities for the height of the nests and the roosts. I can reach either standing comfortably upright.

I did the same....tho I do have to bend slightly to gather eggs.

 

[bruceha2000]

The chickens will still want to, and should, go outside during winter and you should plan on that.

Maybe YOUR chickens want to go outside in the winter, mine hate snow! But then I have a coop converted from a horse stall and the girls have the barn alley to hang out in. Maybe they would have more interest in going out if the only other option was the coop all day long.

Some people make multiple roosts the same height, thinking it will minimize pecking order fuss.

I have a lot of feet of roost at 4' high, 3 sides of the coop. You would THINK that would be enough to keep them from squabbling but NO! They fuss on each other every night. And they mostly don't have a "this is my spot" every night.

I don't do the poop board thing, I have deep bedding (NOT deep litter, no natural composting going on). I rake through it every morning to distribute the "stuff" in the shavings, add shavings periodically. Clean it all out in the spring. Not much daily work at all.

I have 1 "roost" at 2' that no bird has ever used to sleep on, they stage the 4' bars from it. I've added a couple of ramps so those that are getting on in years can walk up from the 2' to 4' bars. Makes it easier to get down in the morning since they don't have to fly off the 4' roosts.

 

[DobieLover]

They can handle it.

But prefer to be in the wind sheltered run.

But they still want to go OUT of the coop

 

[JWChickens]

Maybe YOUR chickens want to go outside in the winter, mine hate snow! But then I have a coop converted from a horse stall and the girls have the barn alley to hang out in. Maybe they would have more interest in going out if the only other option was the coop all day long.


I have a lot of feet of roost at 4' high, 3 sides of the coop. You would THINK that would be enough to keep them from squabbling but NO! They fuss on each other every night. And they mostly don't have a "this is my spot" every night.

I don't do the poop board thing, I have deep bedding (NOT deep litter, no natural composting going on). I rake through it every morning to distribute the "stuff" in the shavings, add shavings periodically. Clean it all out in the spring. Not much daily work at all.

I have 1 "roost" at 2' that no bird has ever used to sleep on, the stage the 4' bars from it. I've added a couple of ramps so those that are getting on in years can walk up from the 2' to 4' bars. Makes it easier to get down in the morning since they don't have to fly off the 4' roosts.

I’ve been wondering how high are safe perches. This helps a bit, thank you.

 

[bruceha2000]

As someone said, to a chicken the higher the better! I don't know that they are good at flying down to a lower perch like wild birds so I don't think I'd go higher than 4' if there isn't an intermediate "safe landing" level AND there is enough horizontal room for them to fly out and down.