Roosting bar “tower”

[BigBlueHen53]

Attached to the run, over wire fencing, all the way around/all sides/top of the run, but the apron is only 14.5" out from the bottom of the run.

I would think that would do. Most predators are going to start digging right at the fence. Anything that foils them is a good thing.

 

[rosemarythyme]

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?

More would be better but I wouldn't sweat it over 4" unless you start seeing signs of digging around the perimeter (which then I'd consider adding more like another foot out).

Or if you have plenty of leftover material, then using it to overlap isn't a bad idea, though that would be a lower priority for me and just do it as you have time and material.

 

[Almosta Farm]

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

I have 2x4s and 1x6s for roosting and mine prefer the 6" wide ones. It allows their feet to be completely flat and covered in cold weather so there's no frostbitten toes.

 

[KCallaUT]

We have 6, 20 week old chickens. 4 like to roost on the low bar, 1 likes the high roost, and 1 likes the poop shelf! Our roosts are staggered 2 by 4's so they don't poop on each other. We LOVE having a Ring camera in there. VERY entertaining!

 

[Copperhead1969]

Hi all,

First-time chicken owner and setting up my coop. We will be fitting 7 hens in this coop all medium breeds (cinnamon queen, Rhode Island Reds, blue and black sexlink) Any feedback on my set up here? We are not sure if we should add a smaller roosting bar below the lowest one (white one) which is at 3ft. Also do u guys think this tower will work? Does it look like they will have enough room to jump up and down?

Thanks!

When setting up roost stagger them , given that you only have 7 hens 2 - 4' wide roost poles are plenty. Give 1' of space forward and 1.5' above for the top roost

 

[redinator]

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

I was looking at that as well. I was thinking of using a metal shed myself until I realized how hard it would be to keep the birds cool in summer here in southern Louisiana.

 

[Hen-Ry]

Hi all,

First-time chicken owner and setting up my coop. We will be fitting 7 hens in this coop all medium breeds (cinnamon queen, Rhode Island Reds, blue and black sexlink) Any feedback on my set up here? We are not sure if we should add a smaller roosting bar below the lowest one (white one) which is at 3ft. Also do u guys think this tower will work? Does it look like they will have enough room to jump up and down?

Thanks!

Hi all,

First-time chicken owner and setting up my coop. We will be fitting 7 hens in this coop all medium breeds (cinnamon queen, Rhode Island Reds, blue and black sexlink) Any feedback on my set up here? We are not sure if we should add a smaller roosting bar below the lowest one (white one) which is at 3ft. Also do u guys think this tower will work? Does it look like they will have enough room to jump up and down?

Thanks!

I looked at your run photos and it looks fantastic! Your hens must love it!
I do have some ideas for your coop. Seems you’re pressed for space, especially floor space. You’ve put a lot of work into your sawhorses and tower stands I know..but, It’s going to be a nightmare to clean floors with all that furniture on it.
I would opt for some wall mounted fixtures instead. Mount a 2x4 across the back wall using lag bolts into your vertical corner angle iron. Invest in a lightweight wall hanger galvanized double nest box. Mount it to the 2x4 and attach a 2x4 spacer across the back-bottom of the box.
Now attach a horizontal 2 foot long 2x4 on the end walls with a 3 foot leg under each one.
Now you have a place to mount a 6 foot roost across the length of the coop, and there’s no furniture on the floor to sweep and shovel around! Just so it’s a bit higher than the perch on the box should do.
My hens prefer a smooth sanded 2x4 laid flat to roost on. I’ll post a photo of the nest box. The removable pans make it easy to clean and change the shavings.
I hope you don’t mind, I copied your coop pic and did a crude finger drawing of the braces and roost.

 

[city_girl_farming]

I looked at your run photos and it looks fantastic! Your hens must love it!
I do have some ideas for your coop. Seems you’re pressed for space, especially floor space. You’ve put a lot of work into your sawhorses and tower stands I know..but, It’s going to be a nightmare to clean floors with all that furniture on it.
I would opt for some wall mounted fixtures instead. Mount a 2x4 across the back wall using lag bolts into your vertical corner angle iron. Invest in a lightweight wall hanger galvanized double nest box. Mount it to the 2x4 and attach a 2x4 spacer across the back-bottom of the box.
Now attach a horizontal 2 foot long 2x4 on the end walls with a 3 foot leg under each one.
Now you have a place to mount a 6 foot roost across the length of the coop, and there’s no furniture on the floor to sweep and shovel around! Just so it’s a bit higher than the perch on the box should do.
My hens prefer a smooth sanded 2x4 laid flat to roost on. I’ll post a photo of the nest box. The removable pans make it easy to clean and change the shavings.
I hope you don’t mind, I copied your coop pic and did a crude finger drawing of the braces and roost.

Thank you I’ll show this to my husband and see what we can do. So far we took out the roosting tower and he put in a ladder as shown in the pic. But it still looks a bit crowded. The hen is roosting on it though. She just started laying yesterday and she hasn’t been laying in the nest boxes though. I found a broken one in the corner of the coop I think she may have laid it while she was roosting bc it was completely shattered not just pecked. And she also laid a smaller one today in the middle of the run. Should I bring out the nest boxes to the run for now? Not sure what to do since we are pressed for time until we can make modifications

 

[Hen-Ry]

I looked at your run photos and it looks fantastic! Your hens must love it!
I do have some ideas for your coop. Seems you’re pressed for space, especially floor space. You’ve put a lot of work into your sawhorses and tower stands I know..but, It’s going to be a nightmare to clean floors with all that furniture on it.
I would opt for some wall mounted fixtures instead. Mount a 2x4 across the back wall using lag bolts into your vertical corner angle iron. Invest in a lightweight wall hanger galvanized double nest box. Mount it to the 2x4 and attach a 2x4 spacer across the back-bottom of the box.
Now attach a horizontal 2 foot long 2x4 on the end walls with a 3 foot leg under each one.
Now you have a place to mount a 6 foot roost across the length of the coop, and there’s no furniture on the floor to sweep and shovel around! Just so it’s a bit higher than the perch on the box should do.
My hens prefer a smooth sanded 2x4 laid flat to roost on. I’ll post a photo of the nest box. The removable pans make it easy to clean and change the shavings.
I hope you don’t mind, I copied your coop pic and did a crude finger drawing of the braces and roost.

Thank you I’ll show this to my husband and see what we can do. So far we took out the roosting tower and he put in a ladder as shown in the pic. But it still looks a bit crowded. The hen is roosting on it though. She just started laying yesterday and she hasn’t been laying in the nest boxes though. I found a broken one in the corner of the coop I think she may have laid it while she was roosting bc it was completely shattered not just pecked. And she also laid a smaller one today in the middle of the run. Should I bring out the nest boxes to the run for now? Not sure what to do since we are pressed for time until we can make modifications

Thank you I’ll show this to my husband and see what we can do. So far we took out the roosting tower and he put in a ladder as shown in the pic. But it still looks a bit crowded. The hen is roosting on it though. She just started laying yesterday and she hasn’t been laying in the nest boxes though. I found a broken one in the corner of the coop I think she may have laid it while she was roosting bc it was completely shattered not just pecked. And she also laid a smaller one today in the middle of the run. Should I bring out the nest boxes to the run for now? Not sure what to do since we are pressed for time until we can make modifications

Don’t fret, it’s normal for pullets to have some accidents when they first start laying. I would definitely move the nest box out into your run while you get things remodeled in the coop. Give her as much privacy as possible. Maybe staple a piece of fabric to hang down at least halfway over the entrance. I would put a fake egg or two amongst the shavings in the nest. That’ll give her the clue that it’s a good place to deposit her brood!I have used golf balls, plastic Easter eggs, and finally some wooden eggs from Hobby Lobby. I’ve seen them at Tractor Supply as well. Elevate the boxes about 16-18” and give her a perch to hop up on. Mine love to get up there and inspect the nest or look at the eggs the others might have laid! I snapped a photo of my wooden eggs the next to a real one..hard to tell the difference even for me! I had to put a Sharpie spot on one end of mine so I wouldn’t gather and try to scramble one! lol!
Best of luck with your ladies!
(Wooden egg is the left one)

 

[city_girl_farming]

Don’t fret, it’s normal for pullets to have some accidents when they first start laying. I would definitely move the nest box out into your run while you get things remodeled in the coop. Give her as much privacy as possible. Maybe staple a piece of fabric to hang down at least halfway over the entrance. I would put a fake egg or two amongst the shavings in the nest. That’ll give her the clue that it’s a good place to deposit her brood!I have used golf balls, plastic Easter eggs, and finally some wooden eggs from Hobby Lobby. I’ve seen them at Tractor Supply as well. Elevate the boxes about 16-18” and give her a perch to hop up on. Mine love to get up there and inspect the nest or look at the eggs the others might have laid! I snapped a photo of my wooden eggs the next to a real one..hard to tell the difference even for me! I had to put a Sharpie spot on one end of mine so I wouldn’t gather and try to scramble one! lol!
Best of luck with your ladies!
(Wooden egg is the left one)

Thank you! I forgot to mention I do have plastic Easter eggs in them I just don’t see any signs of her going inside of them at all. They are at 36inches high right now. We made them this high to deter them from sleeping in them. I do see that she is super curious about going inside the coop though I think she likes the privacy. Do you think I should just lower the nest boxes inside the coop or just bring them out to the yard ?

Also will she stop pecking the eggs? I hear this is a hard habit to break