Roost design...

[hags]

Hello folks... chicken noob here !!!... Finished up the coop but still need to add the nest boxes and roost(s)... Question I couldn't find the answer too ... Do the roost(s) need to have a stepping platform for them to access the roost from or will they fly up to it?... for instance, can I put a roost at 4' and expect them to "fly" up, or will I need a "ladder" for them to hop up too...??? Trying to design a removable poop board for the roost but want to get the roost right before I did that...

I see 8" roost per bird... for 22 birds I need roughly 15' of roost... preferably all the same height as to not create a premium roost area right? ... that all sound right?...

any response and advise is GREATLY appreciated...

Thank you BYC folks...

FYI... 22 chicks are in the coop

... they love it!!!... 12x8 coop with a 20x20 run... 6 buff o's, 6 RIR's, 6 ISA Browns, and 4 assorted bantams... ... ...

 

[hags]

Also, should a 2x4 be rounded on the edges?

 

[newchicksnducks]

My roosts are 2x4 with 4" side flat. I have 13 girls now, 15 previously, and use two roosts 8' long. My droppings board is 30" above the floor, the first roost 9 inches above the droppings board, the higher roost 20" above the board. The highest roost is 12" from the wall, the lower is 26" from wall. Both my roosts and the droppings board are removable. The roosts set in 2x4's with notches in them that are nailed to the walls. The droppings board is a piece of painted OSB (would use plywood next time to reduce splintering, but it's 12 months old and still holding!). The board sets into a 2x4 "frame" and lifts out. I've cleaned my coop once, and turned the board over after washing it. I figure I'll get another 8-12 months from it, then will have to repaint the board. My chickens hop from the floor of our 8x8 coop up to the lower roost, or sometimes in front of the roost onto the droppings board. From here, they hop up to the higher roost if they want. We do have a ramp installed now to the right of this picture, but the birds rarely use it.

Hope this helps give you some ideas

Sorry - just saw your second post...Yes, we gently rounded the edges of the 2x4's, just use a sander to take the sharpness away.

 

[elmo]

What kind of chickens do you have? For my bantams who are good fliers, a four foot tall roost is no problem at all. But for the heavier breeds, I think I remember reading that flying up as high as three feet could be hard for them. And then there's always the return trip flying down to consider.

I wouldn't skimp on roost space. It's better to have more than you need than less, because if the birds are crowded sorting out who gets to perch next to whom (and there will be plenty of squabbling over that), you could end up with some more serious fights among your birds than you would have if they had more room. If you can give them a full 12" of space per bird, I think that would be better.

In my small flock, all the hens wanted to roost next to the rooster, and nobody wanted to roost next to Martha (she was the crabby one).

 

[elmo]

Quote:
No, it doesn't need to be rounded, but just be sure there are no splinters or sharp spots that could cause an injury that could lead to bumblefoot. When I was using boards I sanded down the edges smooth. Now I use smooth barked natural tree branches.

 

[jBlaze]

Quote:
Excellent description! Thanks.

only one thing out, how wide is the droppings board?
(can you make the pict bigger?)

 

[hags]

newchicknducks, thanks for the great detailed response!... How high is your dropping board off the floor?... curios as to how high your lower roost is at 9" above the dropping board... Again, thanks for the great information!!!

Elmo, right now I have the following:
6 buff o's, 6 RIR's, 6 ISA Browns, and 4 assorted bantams

I want and will make enough roosting space and will target the 12" per bird... just trying to figure out how to make the dropping board to be removable and still capture all the roost space... I am looking at hinging a small door to "slide" the dropping board out the coop without walking it across the coop and out the door... just want to slide it out like an oven shelf, spray it off, let dry and replace... I am going to use sheet metal (painted with acrylic to prevent rust or corrosion) for the "board" @ 30"x8' with a 1" lip on each end (like a cookie sheet)... I will have 2 of these (or more if needed) to catch all the roosting space...

based on the responses... I will put a small round routered edge on the roosting boards and sand them...

Thanks again!!!