Roost design - parallel uneven or perpendicular. What height? 5x5 coop.

[clrdogrl]

Getting a 5x5 coop built with bump out nesting boxes. I want two roosts.

Am overthinking this I’m sure. Is there a better design over the other?

I’m definitely putting the 2x4 with the wide side up. (Not like in the sample photos).

I have all large/heavy breed (Orpington, Rocks, Marans, Brahma) and I want them to make sure they have enough space to jump down off the roost.

Is perpendicular or uneven parallel better than the other? How high should each roost be? And 18” from the wall so I don’t get poop on the wall right? The lower should be be how much lower and how much further if I have larger breeds?

I thought about poop boards for a moment but I use sand on the floor anyway so I don’t think it’s necessary.

 

[Raptor Chicken]

I did 2x4's flat and my hens are just fine. IDK about the 2x4's up, I've heard you have to smooth them out a bit to not cause problems with the birds feet.

My hens...

 

[springvalley123]

Although the birds hop up onto the roost bars, they fly down, so they'll need at least as much horizontal room to fly down, as the height of the bars. I've mainly had smaller breeds than yours, and I think 4 ft is way too tall--I'd go with 3 ft or even 30 inches and 24 inches. Some people who keep your big breeds would know better though as to how low to install the roosts, to prevent injuries flying down. I'd think 18 inches away from the wall is plenty though, and having different heights could prevent squabbles.

 

[clrdogrl]

I did 2x4's flat and my hens are just fine. IDK about the 2x4's up, I've heard you have to smooth them out a bit to not

I did 2x4's flat and my hens are just fine. IDK about the 2x4's up, I've heard you have to smooth them out a bit to not cause problems with the birds feet.

My hens...


View attachment 3383362View attachment 3383363

I was referring to the same as yours. With the 4” side up, not like in the photos where the 2” side up.

 

[clrdogrl]

Although the birds hop up onto the roost bars, they fly down, so they'll need at least as much horizontal room to fly down, as the height of the bars. I've mainly had smaller breeds than yours, and I think 4 ft is way too tall--I'd go with 3 ft or even 30 inches and 24 inches. Some people who keep your big breeds would know better though as to how low to install the roosts, to prevent injuries flying down. I'd think 18 inches away from the wall is plenty though, and having different heights could prevent squabbles.

Thank you for the explanation.

So if I have one bar 18” from the wall and 36” (3’) tall, that would still give them more than 36” of horizontal room to fly down.

I’m thinking the shortest roost should be no shorter than 12” so they can still walk through it…how tall are chickens? Lol. They won’t stay still long enough to measure their height.

 

[RojoMarz]

With your big breed birds, I think a ramp would be better for them. You don't want them getting hurt. I have an Orp and two Brahmas. We do have poop board with roost on top. Roost is probably le than 3' off ground and they do not fly up or down from it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I’m thinking the shortest roost should be no shorter than 12” so they can still walk through it…how tall are chickens? Lol. They won’t stay still long enough to measure their height.

Chickens aren't terribly tall. For your flock, since they're bigger, heavier birds, roosts could be as low as 18-24", depending on how high your nest boxes are.

 

[springvalley123]

how tall are chickens? Lol. They won’t stay still long enough to measure their height.

about 14-18 inches. they stand up in a crate that's 20 inches tall (my broody jail)

 

[aart]

Getting a 5x5 coop

That's pretty small for 2 roosts.

I have all large/heavy breed (Orpington, Rocks, Marans, Brahma) and I want them to make sure they have enough space to jump down off the roost.

How many?

and 36” (3’) tall

Here's some tips about heights:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/

 

[clrdogrl]

That's pretty small for 2 roosts.


How many?


Here's some tips about heights:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/

@aart - My though process for having 2 roosts instead of 1 is because my Wyandotte isn't very nice and a lot of the other girls don't like to be around her. So, if I gave her the highest roost, the low order girls would still be happy on the lower roost away from her. Or just giving them more options to sleep in general.

I have 8. So I do think more than 5" of roost space is in order. I went with the 5x5 as opposed to 4x6 because I figured 2 5' roosts spread over 5 ft' was better than 2 6' roosts spread over 4ft' in width. As far as floor space, in all my years of they never spend time in the coop except to sleep and lay. All food and activities are in their covered 9x15 run.

I normally only had 4-6 girls. I'm coming from a 4x4 coop with 1 roost which worked fine for 6 but is tight for 8. It's falling apart so I need a new one.