Roost sizes???

[StaatsFarms]

i have 13 chickens and am getting ready to build the ladder roost for their coop... i have heard to put spacing at 18" apart vertically but do not know how long each roost should be for the number of chickens i have... i am building the roost out of routered 2x2's unless someone has a better idea... any help would be great

 

[Chirpy]

If you have 2x4s, I'd suggest using them instead of the 2x2s. Put the 4" side up for them to sit on. Chickens don't hold onto the roost like other birds... they just sit there. If it gets cold where you live it helps them to be able to sit on their feet to keep them warm in winter.

I think people say that you should allow about 10 inches per chicken (for standard size - more for larger birds) on the roost. I know mine cram in together on their favorite roosts and are closer than that together but that's probably a good length to use and let them decide if they want to be closer.

 

[Judy]

For large fowl breeds, about 8" of roost space per bird. I have read up to 12" recommended, but mine always scrunch up together, even in the summer. A single 8' 2x4 might be enough, or you could make 3 steps, each 3' long, for example.

I am a firm believer in using at least the wide side of a 2x4 for roosts. For a really large bird like an orpington roo, I would provide something even wider. Main reason is that chickens do not like to hang onto round roosts as many other birds do. I've read on here several times where people said their birds looked/acted much more comfortable when they switched from a narrow tree branch type roost to a 2x4. In a cold climate this also protects toes from frostbite.

 

[Judy]

Well, Chirpy and I were posting at the same time. Pretty similar advice huh?

 

[SC_Hugh]

Another great idea that has been floated on BYC is to put a few roost bars at the same height which gives all the chickens the ability to roost at the highest level and allows the ones that don't get along to roost on separate bars.

2"x4"s are suggested over 2"x2"s. I built mine with 2"x2" while my hens are still young. Before winter, I will rebuild with 2"x4"s.

--Hugh

 

[StaatsFarms]

thanks...and to correct my mistake i meant to say 18" horizontallly (as the rungs/roost) and am wondering how long to make each one... i am thinking if i make 3 of them each being 3' long and space them 18" up above each other i should be ok... right???

 

[StaatsFarms]

thanks for everyones advise... i think i will switch to 2x4's now

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Sounds just right. Good luck.

 

[Nostalchic]

Well, just to throw a little wrench into the works here, I have 2x4's with the wide side up at about 2 feet, several mounted at the same level with the recommended spacing etc, as I learned with a thorough investigation of this site and others, and my chickens - at age 12-14 weeks - will NOT roost on them but pile up in the corner right by the door so that, if entering the coop at night you have to push this 30-chicken-pile-up out of the way with the door. I've tried placing them up there individually, but they can jump down and rejoin the pile faster than I can put them back up there... I'm sure this would be a very comical sight if it weren't happening to me... They can and do get up there all day, but won't roost there at night. My neighbor suggests using something round, which hers seem to like (same age, in fact, same batch of chicks which we ordered together), or smaller, like 2x2's. I could be patient (I think, maybe not...) but I don't want them developing a bad habit of sleeping on the side of the coop where the nests are going to be. A quandary!

 

[Chirpy]

Nostalchic - I don't want to hijack the thread but thought I'd offer an idea for you. Have you gone in after dark, after your chicks are sleeping and then tried to move them? I had to wait until around 11:00 one night and go out and move my chicks (about 9 weeks old) to the roosts individually. A couple of them did jump back down but most stayed there the first night. It took about a week of going out well after dark to get all of them to stay on the roosts - it did work for me and they all go to the roosts now.

I'd stick with the 2x4s and give them some more time .. also, try making the roosts even higher. Even my 6 week old chick (raised with momma hen) gets up onto my 4 foot high roost every night.

Good luck.