Re-designing roosts for older hens

[eikome]

I built a new coop this past fall/spring and I'm trying to fine-tune everything now based on how the chickens are actually using the space. I need to change up their roosts.

I have 12 standard sized/heavy bodied chickens, and a 6ft x 6ft area for their roosts (the other half of the 12x6 coop has nest boxes, human door, and chicken door to the run. That area is also where they try to land when they launch off the roosts). Currently I have three 2x4 bars positioned wide side up ladder-style 14" apart. They sleep on the top 2 bars.

Problem 1: My elderly hens (7+ years old) are having trouble getting down from the roosts. They basically crash their way down from the top bar and land hard. I built them a ladder/ramp to help, but they ignore it. They also ignore the lower roosts. I'm worried they will hurt themselves.

Problem 2: They often fall off the roosts when settling in and jockey for position. It's a long drop for my old hens (3.5 ft) and again they land hard. So I'd like their top roost a little lower down maybe? But the floor space underneath the roosts still needs to be useable for the hens come winter time when they spend more time indoors.

Problem 3: I want poop boards.

How would you design the roosting space so that my old hens can roost safely, floorspace under the roosts is maintained and kept clean, and there's enough room for everyone (and for me to clean it.)

Thanks for your help!

 

[StinkyAcres]

A photo of the current roosting area would help us get a better idea of the space.

I think if you have the space having roosts in an "L" or "U" shape along the walls would give you enough length. I suggest having the poop boards at about 24" off the floor and the roosts about 6" or so above them. The chickens can use the lip of the poop board to get up and down more easily.

 

[eikome]

A photo of the current roosting area would help us get a better idea of the space.

I think if you have the space having roosts in an "L" or "U" shape along the walls would give you enough length. I suggest having the poop boards at about 24" off the floor and the roosts about 6" or so above them. The chickens can use the lip of the poop board to get up and down more easily.

Here's a current photo of the roosts as is. It's hard to tell, but there's quite a bit more floor space under where the camera is that you can't see. And there's a window behind the camera too. Everything looks a little oddly stretched weird too thanks to the camera lens.

I was thinking about an L shape. I could maybe do a U the wide way if I reconfigured the automatic door lifter and the power for their emergency heater panel on that side of the coop. I don't think I could fit in the middle of a U the narrow way to clean things.

Thank you for suggesting the board spacings! There are so many different dimensions and placements for droppings boards, I wasn't sure what might work best.

 

[texsuze]

Agree an "L-shaped" configuration coming out from the wall but perhaps in sections having incremental heights. Try a lower height from ground as the first level of poop board/roost bar, maybe 15", then a bit higher as you move along the wall space. Hens can jump from poop board to poop board if spaced that way and far enough out from the wall.

Also, I started years ago using solid ramps with low-profile "cleats" across them for access, rather than ladders. My oldsters walk slowly and sometimes stop to think or inspect on their way up the ramp; ladders to me always suggest jumping required, plus the open space between rungs would throw me off, for sure. Once I saw a picture of an old wooden window shutter used as a ramp--built-in "cleats" on that. With ramps, remember to keep the incline as reduced as possible.

 

[eikome]

Agree an "L-shaped" configuration coming out from the wall but perhaps in sections having incremental heights. Try a lower height from ground as the first level of poop board/roost bar, maybe 15", then a bit higher as you move along the wall space. Hens can jump from poop board to poop board if spaced that way and far enough out from the wall.

Also, I started years ago using solid ramps with low-profile "cleats" across them for access, rather than ladders. My oldsters walk slowly and sometimes stop to think or inspect on their way up the ramp; ladders to me always suggest jumping required, plus the open space between rungs would throw me off, for sure. Once I saw a picture of an old wooden window shutter used as a ramp--built-in "cleats" on that. With ramps, remember to keep the incline as reduced as possible.

Yes I was thinking of adding a "bottom" underneath the ladder rungs to see if would help them see it as a ramp they can walk on. Of course they do have that ramp style with cleats outside in the run to help them get up to the chicken door and they ignore that too, lol. So who knows. Chickens be chickening.

A multi-level L is something I hadn't considered. That might work very well for my old ladies. Thanks!