Roost type, width, height, distance and nesting box height...

[TJ]

Hi, we are installing new perches and I would like to know if we are to use 2 x 4's laid on their side or use round perches? If so, how high do you have your perches? How far from the wall are they? How far apart did you stagger your perches?

Also, what is the proper nesting box height?

Thanks for the help!

TJ

 

[jessupfamily]

We have used nesting boxes 1ft x 1ft x 1ft with an 1-2 inch lip on the front for bantam through standard and large breeds for the past 4 years and they have been great! Our roosting bars are 1in x 1in a foot of room in all directions and anywhere from 1 foot to 2 (and even 3 foot for our big roosters) off the floor. I think 2 x 4s on there sides would work fine. We have some that just roost on the tops of the nest boxes. We even put big branches (shoot branches and leaves still attached) from fallen trees in the coop as extra roost bars. They like just about anything they can get their feet to hold on to. In the colder months they want to huddle together and in the hotter months they want room to spread out.
Amy J.

 

[cookinmom]

I've read here that with chickens being heavy, they like flat roosts better than round ones. 2x4s on their side should work good. Mine use a 10" wide shelf, and they like it.
Higher is better for roosts. I don't know the best hight for nest boxes, mine are at about 2' but the girls aren't laying yet. Just make sure your roosts are higher than your nest boxes, so they don't sleep in the nests and muck 'em up. Make sure your roosts are far enough from the wall that a full grown chicken can sit on them without being smushed against the wall. My roost 'shelf' is 3.5 ft from the floor, and the front edge is 18" from the wall. They have a little 'step' at about 18" from the floor in case they want to get up their in 2 jumps instead of one.