Rafters --BIG mistake!

[DownwardDog]

So, our coop is finally built but we have made one MAJOR mistake! None of the chicks are roosting on the roosts over the poop boards! They are all roosting on the highest rafters, where it is dreadfully hot! We have tries to fix it 2x but they still insist on roosting there. Tonight we are hanging chicken wire to prevent access but not ventilation (it's 97 degrees here in NH), so please keep your fingers crossed! So, I just thought I'd post our mistake so others can learn. Can't wait to use the poop boards/Sweet PDZ combo once there's actual poop in them

 

[popsicle]

I let my chickens roost in the rafters of their coop. I remember all my uncle's chickens roosting in the rafters of his barn.

I have two solar-powered fans (cheap-o ones for RVs) that run every day and a regular-plug-in fan for when it's really hot.

I'm more concerned about the fat ones breaking legs or their neck crashing down than anything else (they do have a ladder to go up and down--do they use it? Not always)

 

[gryeyes]

Quite a few of my chickens roost in the rafters of the coop. It started with one bantam hen... But now several large fowl birds roost up there, too.

The largest ladies, the dominant rooster, and a turkey use the two ladder roots. I know some of the rafter roosting birds use the ladder roosts to get high enough to fly to a rafter and then maneuver to their favorite spots. But they either soar or plummet down to the floor. :/

 

[MoonShadows]

We tacked up small wooden slats to keep them out of the rafters. I know they like it up there, but they don't use the ladder up to the roosts as a launching pad or descending pad, so I was concerned with possible injuries.

 

[aart]

So, our coop is finally built but we have made one MAJOR mistake! None of the chicks are roosting on the roosts over the poop boards! They are all roosting on the highest rafters, where it is dreadfully hot! We have tries to fix it 2x but they still insist on roosting there. Tonight we are hanging chicken wire to prevent access but not ventilation (it's 97 degrees here in NH), so please keep your fingers crossed! So, I just thought I'd post our mistake so others can learn. Can't wait to use the poop boards/Sweet PDZ combo once there's actual poop in them

Excellent solution! That's what chicken wire is for-controlling where chickens can go!

 

[DownwardDog]

Well now, the chicken wire worked, but they all SQUEEZED onto the ridge above the door, which is about 4". How they fit up there I'll never know! We blocked THAT off and they are now finally roosting where they should above the poop boards. yEAH!!! And this morning they finally laid their first 2 eggs which broke falling onto the poop boards-). Oh well!

 

[Hokum Coco]

Due to limited height in my coop I was forced to place my poop shelf or board only 3½ inches (width of a 2x4) from my roost.



It turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Every time a hen lays an egg through the night it saves the day by catching the eggs unharmed (outside of maybe a bit of poop on the shell).