Roost!?!?

[Hen-ry Higgins]

Very helpful information. Thanks to all of you posters!

 

[Hokum Coco]

I need ideas for why they should be roosting on... Pics would help. Thanks.

POOP BOARDS are the "BEST" addition yet. Handles well over ½ of the poop in my set up keeps ammonia smell in check 3½" below roost (roost are 2x4 wide side up) excellent for catching eggs laid through the night (roost are in cups for easier removal and cleaning). I recently friction fit a piece of vinyl flooring over my poop board.it makes clean up even easier; Pop out; Scrap; Hose; Pop in.

Winter months even easier flex over compost bin DONE!

Easy peasy!.

Nest boxes
In my nest boxes I fold a feed bag to fit (nest boxes are milk crates 1 ft³). When a bag gets soiled; fold a new one; pop out the soiled; pop in the new.


I currently have 17 chickens in my set up (4x8 foot print coop) with no issues.

 

[Sam3 Abq]

So what I am gathering from most is you need 12" per bird? Also you need roosts to be above nesting boxes? 12-18" spread per roost and 12" height difference for ladder style? Poop board undernearth that is something cleanable (ie. laminate surface)? Any other thoughts? What about my chicks when they first go in, they are 8 weeks and won't be able to reach 36" off floor? Should we make a temporary ladder?

My only addition would be an option for the poop board - make lip around it (1x1) and then place a mix of sand and Sweet PDZ in the poop-tray - scoop out the poop / no need to take out the entire poop-tray

 

[ChickInDelight]

Are they pooping on each other's heads? I need to build a roost complex. What do you suggest?

 

[ChickInDelight]

I also built a ladder. The girls climb it to get to the top roosts. I don't see hens on your ladder. What do you suggest? All mine want to be high as possible.

 

[shmeggs]

im building a 8x8 coop. here is the roosts that I built in mine.

 

[akhadley]

My tractor and coop are not huge (only have 3 chickens - 2 RIR and 1 EE) and so I can't make anything too big or high. Is a roost, using a fairly fat tree branch, that is raised 12-18" high okay? I'm reading a lot of comments about making sure they have to fly up or at least spread their wings to get up on a roost so they exercise a bit but not sure I can get something any higher than 18" due to my limitations.

 

[shmeggs]

there are lots of ways to build roosts. some use tree branches but I like using 2x4 on the flat side so when its cold they can fully sit down keep feet and legs warm. even using 2x4 you can mount them a lot different ways.

 

[CrazyChickGirl]

My tractor and coop are not huge (only have 3 chickens - 2 RIR and 1 EE) and so I can't make anything too big or high. Is a roost, using a fairly fat tree branch, that is raised 12-18" high okay? I'm reading a lot of comments about making sure they have to fly up or at least spread their wings to get up on a roost so they exercise a bit but not sure I can get something any higher than 18" due to my limitations.

We used a tree branch and its only about 18 inches off the floor. So far it's been perfect. Just make sure when they are sitting on the roost they are higher then when sitting in the nesting box.

 

[Irishhenman]

I use tree branches that have a diameter of around 2-3" now. I have done a lot of experimentation with different types of roost and the chickens like these the most. If you can't get tree branches I would use 2x2's with the corners sanded down a small bit. I have had many problems with 2x4 roosts and whenever I give hens a choice they never choose to roost on the 2x4.

there are lots of ways to build roosts. some use tree branches but I like using 2x4 on the flat side so when its cold they can fully sit down keep feet and legs warm. even using 2x4 you can mount them a lot different ways.

Chickens have very fluffy skirts that will cover their legs and feet while sleeping on any roost, 2x4 roosts make them roost with their legs flat on the boards which very is unnatural.