Roost help wanted- update with photos of our coop

[johndeerelover]

I'm trying to figure out the best place for roosts in my coop. It's hard to see the higher roost, but if you look closely it is up above the windows. There is also the shorter one by the window. That is only about 8 inches from the window's hardware cloth is that ok?

Right now on the upper roost, the chickens backs are almost level with the top of the walls which is also where the ventilation is. There is hardware cloth between the wall/roof where they meet. Is that ok, or I should I have it lower so they are below the winter draft? I did have one roost way up inside the A frame, but they never went up to it so I took it down.

Thanks again!

 

[sn0wwhite]

That's a nice looking coop! If your hardware cloth is secure with wood trim framing or lots of screws with washers I wouldn't worry about anything getting through it.

 

[johndeerelover]

ok thanks. It's 19 gauge 1/2 inch hardware cloth, and I screwed pieces of wood on top of it using quite a few screws. I pushed on it myself, and it doesn't go anywhere. I wasn't sure if raccoons can eventually gnaw through the stuff or not. Hopefully not!

 

[4 the Birds]

Your roost location does not sound ideal. I would move the roost bar down to about half of the wall height. This way any air blowing in from the upper vents is not directly on the birds. Roost bars are best above the nest height and designed so that the birds don' t have to fly up to them or have long jumps down from them. A lot of flapping creates very dusting conditions in the coop. Set your bars down and add a ramp up to them. They are fine in front of the windows provided you have secure mesh on each window.

 

[johndeerelover]

added some interior photos!