Roost bar positions

[-Laura]

Almost ready for the girls to move in! This coop is about 7’x 4’ and I have 6 chickens. Nesting boxes will be on right side on the floor. Should I do one bar diagonally for 8-9’ of bar space or something else?

 

[nuthatched]

I'd add two short ones in the tallest area. Nice coop!

 

[-Laura]

I'd add two short ones in the tallest area. Nice coop!

Thanks! It’s been a much bigger project than we anticipated but I think it’ll work well. My plan was to do 2 bars on the left side away from the nesting boxes but then we decided to do the 2 big doors. The tallest area would be above the nesting boxes and I want those to stay as clean as possible.

 

[DobieLover]

Almost ready for the girls to move in! This coop is about 7’x 4’ and I have 6 chickens. Nesting boxes will be on right side on the floor. Should I do one bar diagonally for 8-9’ of bar space or something else?View attachment 2803808View attachment 2803811

I'd run one right down the middle, 7' long.
You're going to lose bedding out that pop door.

 

[-Laura]

I'd run one right down the middle, 7' long.
You're going to lose bedding out that pop door.

Hmm You’re right. Probably more details I missed :/

 

[linguini]

Hmm You’re right. Probably more details I missed :/

A removable 2x4 bar standing on the 2' side at the pop door will serve as a stopper!

 

[gtaus]

The tallest area would be above the nesting boxes and I want those to stay as clean as possible.

Yeah, I would not put my roosting bars over the nesting boxes. Your chickens will poo during the night as they roost and all that drops down below the roosting bar. Personally, I located my roosting bars as far as possible from my nesting boxes.

You did not put a location on your user id, so let me add that here in the north, we typically use a 2X4 laid flat for the roost. That allows the chickens to tuck their feet up underneath their bodies in the cold winter and helps them retain body heat better. Also, you want a well ventilated chicken coop, but the roost should not be over a draft opening. If there is a cold draft coming up underneath the roost, then your chickens will lose body heat in the cold winter. Most of my ventilation is above the head of my chickens as they roost. It works for me, but I live in the cold north so I have to be concerned about things like cold drafts.

A removable 2x4 bar standing on the 2' side at the pop door will serve as a stopper!

Yep, I was thinking any small board would serve well as a stopper. I'd make sure it was removable. I'd try the coop without a board to see if the litter falls out the pop door and becomes a problem. Depending on the type of litter you use, you might not need a stopper. Nice coop and should be fine for the chickens.

 

[jreardon1918]

Two roosts will allow for separation for those lower on the pecking order.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Make sure wherever you place the bar(s) that you can also reach in and access them if needed, i.e. to put birds up on the roost if they're not figuring it out for themselves.

And since others mentioned a "stopper" for litter at the pop door, you should add one across the human access door as well, so bedding doesn't spill out any time you open it. I have a 1x6 across the human door and it's held in place with bricks, so easy to remove for cleanouts.

 

[-Laura]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I found a couple boards to block bedding and hung one board lengthwise but I can change it up if needed.