Roost ideas for a small coop.

[Bear1978]

I like the idea of a stump or stool better! Less space required and it’s removable when not needed!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thanks all!
So basically I need to ditch the ladder, lower the roosts to about 2ft high, add to the width of my poop board and add another row of roost with it being spaced about a foot apart- to maximize the amount of space I have?

But will the chicks be able to jump up the 2ft to the roost at the age of 5-6 weeks old when I let them out there without the need of a ladder?

The young ones may need help by having a stump or weighted bucket to get up two feet.....once grown some they will easily hop up. Even my big brahmas and giant cochins make the 2' jump easily.
I had a ladder but no one used it so I took it out.

 

[Bear1978]

Awesome! I have an old wooden stool that was actually in the playhouse that the kids used that I made. I can cut the legs down to about a foot which I would think be the right size for the younguns to use to hop up to the perch? Thanks!

 

[Bear1978]

Also, I’m adding a poop board under the roost. I have a painted plywood floor. It’s about 5 years old but it’s been inside the playhouse. I plan on using pine shavings for the coop floor. Would I need to put down a thick plastic sheet on the floor before using the shavings as to keep moisture contact of the wood to a minimum? Or wools moisture get trapped under the plastic and only make it worse?

 

[MrLeeHo]

I have 2 4-5 week old Black Asians that were roosting in my coop ~28-30 inches off the ground last night when i went to lock them up. Theyve been in the coop for about a week now and this was the first time ive seen them roosting on it. Seems to me they learn quickly. These two have followed my other 12 week old EE's and have begun roosting, scratching, eating treats, entering and exiting the coop with no help from me. My issue on roost height was that my nesting boxes were initially about 6 inches higher than the roost and the girls were sleeping and pooping in the boxes (too young to be laying). i moved the roosts to just about 6 inches above the boxes and they seem to love the higher perch. haven't had any issues with them getting up or down from it.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Also, I’m adding a poop board under the roost. I have a painted plywood floor. It’s about 5 years old but it’s been inside the playhouse. I plan on using pine shavings for the coop floor. Would I need to put down a thick plastic sheet on the floor before using the shavings as to keep moisture contact of the wood to a minimum? Or wools moisture get trapped under the plastic and only make it worse?

The shavings will absorb almost all moisture from the droppings. Since you will have a poop board even less droppings will hit the floor than in my coop.

My floors are painted with porch and floor paint. I feel it has better staying power than regular paint. Well over 5 years in my coops and still no flaking, peeling or rotting.
I would not add a plastic liner. Yes moisture can get trapped under that but worse is a home for creepy bugs to hide.

 

[Bear1978]

Thank you sir! I appreciate everyone's expertise and advise on this forum! I would be lost in google land looking up info without it!!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thank you sir! I appreciate everyone's expertise and advise on this forum! I would be lost in google land looking up info without it!!

You are welcome.

Don't get lost in google.....it is hard to find your way out when that happens.

 

[Alaskan]

I agree,paint has worked fine for me... especially with the poop boards.

 

[Bear1978]

I agree,paint has worked fine for me... especially with the poop boards.

My poop board is not a solid piece of wood, one part, the biggest part is a piece of that laminated particle board i salvaged from a computer desk I turned into a make up desk for my wife. The other part is a piece of raw 1x4, I need to add another piece to make it a full 24in. I thought about spraying it with some urethane to protect it from the poop rather than painting it.

On that note, the lumber and tin for the run got delivered today! I am ready to get these noisy girls outside!

As I type this it sounds like they are having a tag-team wrestling match in their box or a foot race bcs a couple of them zoom back and forth from one side of the box to the other! Geez! lol!