Roosting bar “tower”

[city_girl_farming]

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

We added some ventilation windows secured with hardware cloth on the very top where no drafts will be hitting the hens. If it gets too hot we will be adding a solar fan!

 

[city_girl_farming]

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.

We initially wanted to do this but we are not sure the shed would hold the weight of the nest boxes. It’s a metal shed but it’s very thin metal that can bend easily with added weight.

 

[KyCoop]

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?

I personally like the 3 inch wide. I feel like it let's their foot be flat.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

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

Ummm. It should be right on the ground and maybe just covered with gravel. Sorry but nothing is going to dig down 18" to get in, they're just going to try to dig under the fences. Bend the hardware cloth to cover the gap between the ground and the fence.

 

[city_girl_farming]

Ummm. It should be right on the ground and maybe just covered with gravel. Sorry but nothing is going to dig down 18" to get in, they're just going to try to dig under the fences. Bend the hardware cloth to cover the gap between the ground and the

Ummm. It should be right on the ground and maybe just covered with gravel. Sorry but nothing is going to dig down 18" to get in, they're just going to try to dig under the fences. Bend the hardware cloth to cover the gap between the ground and the fence.

Thanks but yeah We have dogs and they need to be alone with them during the day didn’t want to take a chance!

 

[C Siena]

I personally like the 3 inch wide. I feel like it let's their foot be flat.

Thank you. I'm going to purchase a 2x3 for the 3rd roost.

They will have the choice of 3 different ones. We'll probably change out the 2x2 for a 3".

 

[NatJ]

It's not quoting right for this, but:

"Thanks but yeah We have dogs and they need to be alone with them during the day didn’t want to take a chance!"

Your buried hardware cloth will probably keep the dogs out.

But if your dogs really like to dig, they might make some big holes next to the chicken run. If that turns out to be a problem, you might want to try the hardware cloth "skirt" idea, attached to the run and then laid flat on the ground. That would stop the dogs before they can move as much dirt and make as much mess.

If your dogs don't dig much, it won't matter which method you used.

 

[C Siena]

Ummm. It should be right on the ground and maybe just covered with gravel. Sorry but nothing is going to dig down 18" to get in, they're just going to try to dig under the fences. Bend the hardware cloth to cover the gap between the ground and the fence.

I'm a little shy of 18" for the apron. We have about 14" out from the run. We do have some pieces left from ventilation, should we add this to make it 18" out?