Roost positioning

[MTchick]

I've been staring at my half-built coop for the last week and I'm convinced my roost is not in the right spot. I have Barred Rocks, SL Wyandottes, and a few other similar breeds.

How close to the nearest parallel wall can a roost be?

What is the optimal distance to save space in the center of the coop?

The book I have says it needs to be 18" off the nearest wall, but that seems really far and it takes up the center of my henhouse in a rather obstructive manner. If I could put it about 10" to 12" distance parallel to the wall it would be a heck of a lot nicer for me to clean the henhouse. Will that work? I'll leave it at 18" off the wall if I have to, but I'd rather move it.

Thanks.

-MTchick

 

[hypnojessi]

I would go with what the book says but you can also stair-step the rungs like a ladder 12" apart vertically and horzonally so they can hop from one roost to the next.

So you may be able to go to 12" but remember to accomodate for larger breeds if you have any like the Brahmas. If you mean that the roost is really high in the center of your coop, you only need to make it about 2 ft off the ground. And you could make it removable for easier cleaning too.

If you want better info it might be helpful if you posted some pics of your coop set up. But I hope this helps.

 

[cornishman]

try a ladder-style roost moved over to the side but leave enough distance from the top spot where thier tails don't touch the back of the pen...i have some made this way and they work good. cornishman.

 

[MTchick]

Thanks for the help on this. I ended up moving it to 12" off the wall and it is 24" from the floor after reading the replies and looking it up in some coop-building books at the bookstore. I'm thinking of putting another one on the opposite wall, too, just in case they want more space. Sounds like that one should be the same height to minimize roost wars, huh...

-MTchick

 

[countryentertainment]

we made our roost 12" from the wall, just a couple more inches would have been better. it was fine till they got older and we got a roo, now we have dribbles down the wall and splashes. I want to make some ladder style ones. our roost is really high cause they all went up high to roost on a shelf and weren't using the roost at all till it was moved up. We have 3 roosts for 13 hens and 1 roo and they do like to spread out. most of the time they are all on the 2 highest, but we haven't been through the heat of summer yet so that will change I expect. we have Partridge Rocks, Buff Orpingtons, leghorns, Black Australorps.
Cindy

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
AHA! I now FINALLY understand why it has to be 18". THANKS!