Roost

[danieltony010]

I am in the process of designing my chicken coop and I have a some questions about roost. How far off the ground should the roost be? How much space should I allow on the roost for each chicken. My coop will have a earthen floor covered with pine shavings. Is a poop board necessary and if yes, what would be a suitable material for a poop board?

 

[Spartan22]

I’ll try to answer your Qs one at a time.
#1. Depends on the size of your coop and the type of chicken you have, I’ll start with 2-3 ft roost above ground- my chickens prefer higher 4-7 ft.
#2 ideal space 12-14” per chicken on the roost.
#3 I prefer to have poop boards having more than 20 chickens, easy clean up and chicken feet are cleaner when they get down from the roost, eggs are less dirty since they don’t track down lots of poo in the nests. I scoop poop every morning but not necessary, I just prefer less deep clean up.
#4 poop boards should be an easier clean up materials, I lined my with vinyl boards and vinyl floorings and top them with sand and pine shavings- easy peasy clean up.

 

[Trimurtisan]

I am in the process of designing my chicken coop and I have a some questions about roost. How far off the ground should the roost be? How much space should I allow on the roost for each chicken. My coop will have a earthen floor covered with pine shavings. Is a poop board necessary and if yes, what would be a suitable material for a poop board?

I don't use a poop board currently. For my main setup I use deep litter, and do not have food/water in the coop. The birds are also outside in the yard all day. So there's not really much poop generated in the cocompared to where they eat and hang out at all day. With that and the deep litter it's pretty easy street

I'm getting ready to build a separate indoor/outdoor breeding pin that will be closed off. Since the birds in it will be eating and pooping in the same general area I will be using a poop board.

In regards as what to use, I'll be going for something lightweight and easy to move/clean. I guess it would also depend on how much area your covering too.

 

[aart]

How far off the ground should the roost be?

As low as possible, IMO, for ease of the keeper reaching birds off roost at night for exams. They will go to the highest possible place to roost but they don't need to be way up high.
Here's some tips on the height of things to think about as you plan your coop:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/

How much space should I allow on the roost for each chicken.

Depends on if they have to fly up or not....they need 'wing space' if flying up and room to dance the RoostTimeRumble. One advantage to a poop board is it can make roost space simpler to use and add to it.

Is a poop board necessary and if yes, what would be a suitable material for a poop board?

Depends on how you want to manage the manure. I like to get the poop out of the coop to keep humidity down, air quality up, and floor shavings last longer. It all gets sent to a friends compost. Click on this pic to see others:



Oh, and....Welcome to BYC! @danieltony010
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