Roosting bar “tower”

[BigBlueHen53]

If the nest boxes are outside, will the eggs be safe from predators? What are the run walls made of? Hardware cloth is recommended, as chicken wire won't keep dogs, coyotes or raccoons out.

Please understand, we are not intending to be critical or to discourage you, we want to help you keep your birds both safe and comfortable. And honestly, to help keep you from making some of the mistakes we al made as newbies that sometimes resulted in losses.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes, my main concern was them flying up or down and hitting walls so we’re going to put it in their run (it’s 8ft by 18ft) and build a ladder instead and put it in the wall pictured behind the tower. It’s like 44inches wide I think that should be good if we add 2-3 bars? Maybe we can take the nest boxes out so they have more room to fly down… can nest boxes be placed outside in the run?

If it's 44" wide then 2 bars should work if they're at the same height. Or you could possibly do an L-shape (so 2 bars with an intersection at 90 degrees from the other) depending on how the coop is laid out.

Nests can be outside except it's harder to climate protect them that way, and the chickens will need access to them from sunrise on, so you will either need a reliable auto door or if the run is predator proofed to your satisfaction, leave the pop door open all the time.

Alternatively you could consider dropping the nest boxes lower (depends on how you feel about bending down to pick up eggs!) so you could drop roosts lower as well, which would reduce the amount of clearance the birds need to fly down in the morning.

 

[city_girl_farming]

If the nest boxes are outside, will the eggs be safe from predators? What are the run walls made of? Hardware cloth is recommended, as chicken wire won't keep dogs, coyotes or raccoons out.

Please understand, we are not intending to be critical or to discourage you, we want to help you keep your birds both safe and comfortable. And honestly, to help keep you from making some of the mistakes we al made as newbies that sometimes resulted in losses.

Not at all, I appreciate all your feedback. Yes the run is .fully enclosed in hardware cloth!

 

[city_girl_farming]

If it's 44" wide then 2 bars should work if they're at the same height. Or you could possibly do an L-shape (so 2 bars with an intersection at 90 degrees from the other) depending on how the coop is laid out.

Nests can be outside except it's harder to climate protect them that way, and the chickens will need access to them from sunrise on, so you will either need a reliable auto door or if the run is predator proofed to your satisfaction, leave the pop door open all the time.

Alternatively you could consider dropping the nest boxes lower (depends on how you feel about bending down to pick up eggs!) so you could drop roosts lower as well, which would reduce the amount of clearance the birds need to fly down in the morning.

Thanks! I like the L shape bars idea!!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Great! Looks good to me as long as there are no gaps where gate meets fencing, or where fencing meets ground, where predators may dig under. Are you familiar with the concept of a ground "apron"?

 

[KyCoop]

I know you didn't ask but looking at your coop. Where is the ventilation?
I don't see any.

 

[NatJ]

The roost bars are actually not on top of each other we put them opposite sides (like a cross) so that they don’t poop on each other.

I can't speak for anyone ese, but I did notice them going in different directions

For chickens sitting on the middle of the top bar, their poop would still hit chickens sitting on the middle of the bottom bar. I agree that arrangement will keep the birds at the outer edges from pooping on each other.

And for any style of roost, if the chickens all sleep on the top bar, then there are no chickens underneath to get pooped on.

Yes, my main concern was them flying up or down and hitting walls so we’re going to put it in their run (it’s 8ft by 18ft)

Putting that one in the run sounds like a good idea.

 

[Sally PB]

can nest boxes be placed outside in the run?

I personally would not do this, even if I were sure the eggs would be safe from the weather.

Chickens instinctively know that laying an egg is a time when they are vulnerable. They want a place where they feel secure.

Can you mount the nest boxes to the outside of the coop to free up floor space? There are lots of great ideas in the articles on building coops that show that kind of configuration.

 

[C Siena]

The roost "bar" will not be comfortable for them to sleep. There are varying opinions on this but chickens don't grip their feet when they sleep like most birds do. I know, they sleep in trees ect. But if we are on the subject of roosting I prefer a 2×3 flat side up .

Are 2x2s too small? We have those in the coop that was already set up when we purchased it. It "seems" they have been doing well for 2 years.
In the one we built, we have an 8'L 2x2 and 8'L - 3"D branch. Is a flat roost better or are they equal? Would a 2x3, 3" side up, be better for their feet/to roost?

 

[city_girl_farming]

Great! Looks good to me as long as there are no gaps where gate meets fencing, or where fencing meets ground, where predators may dig under. Are you familiar with the concept of a ground "apron"?

Oh yes we buried the hardware cloth about a foot and a half down and added some bricks!