Roosting bar help!

[HyperCello]

If photos are needed, I can grab them after work (too dark still). My coop came with 1"x1" roosting bars, and I don't like them. I want to put a 2x4" in there instead, and use a joist hanger for easy removal/cleaning. What is the best way to do that? I was thinking a screw/washer combo that would screw on the outside of the coop (the walls are thin). Would this work? What size washer should I use?

 

[ColoradoPip]

Pics always help!

It sounds like your idea will work. Attach the joist hangers to the coop and lay the 2x4 in them. This is where not seeing the coop setup makes it difficult to help but I would either put two screws on one side, from the outside, to keep the 2x4 upright in the hanger or put a screw or two through the hanger into the 2x4 if you have room. The latter option means your screws do double duty keeping the 2x4 in place and upright both. The joist hangers aren't deep enough to set the 2x4 in without attaching the 2x4 to the hanger. That's probably all you will need unless the 2x4 is >2ft long. If it's long then I would also put screws in the other end as well.

Instead of doing this, here is what I would prefer:
- build two, ~1.75" deep U shaped holders from wood which the 2x4 will slide into. Basically make your own hangers out of wood but make them deep enough so the 2x4 won't pop out easily.
- Screw those two holders into the coop
- Now you can slide the 2x4 in and out easily as needed, for cleaning, replace it, whatever.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The way I handle attaching to thin walls is to make a sandwich. This is the best photo I have because with the wire you can see both sides. Put a piece of wood on both sides and screw them together. That gives you something very solid to attach to and you don't have to worry about washers.

In your case you could put a piece of wood on the outside and screw your hanger directly into that through your wall if you wish but i think it would be more stable with wood on both sides.

 

[aart]

In your case you could put a piece of wood on the outside and screw your hanger directly into that through your wall if you wish but i think it would be more stable with wood on both sides.

Ditto Dat.

 

[HyperCello]

Ok, so here are some photos. The base of the coop is metal, so ignore the reflection. (This setup is for 4 hens, but could be a max of 6).

Side one

Showing the 3 roosting bars....will they use the top one? It is about 2 ft, 8 in from the base?

The other side. I'm thinking I need to add a support to get the bar a bit higher than the boxes (or is that height ok since the boxes are a bit lower?

The side. It is about half as wide as the framing piece.

 

[Ridgerunner]

will they use the top one? It is about 2 ft, 8 in from the base?

This will probably be the favorite. The highest place they can sleep usually is the favorite.

The other side. I'm thinking I need to add a support to get the bar a bit higher than the boxes (or is that height ok since the boxes are a bit lower?

I don't know how long that top roost is. There is a good chance that is the only one they will use if you only have four chickens. I'm not sure what is going on over the nests either. If they can get on that board that would be the second most popular location, right over the open nests.

I'd think the top of those nest dividers would be the next favorite places. Your two bottom roosts would be least favorite. The top of the boards forming the lip of your nests is the same height so they would be equally popular as your current lowest roosts..

 

[HyperCello]

will they use the top one? It is about 2 ft, 8 in from the base?

This will probably be the favorite. The highest place they can sleep usually is the favorite.

The other side. I'm thinking I need to add a support to get the bar a bit higher than the boxes (or is that height ok since the boxes are a bit lower?

I don't know how long that top roost is. There is a good chance that is the only one they will use if you only have four chickens. I'm not sure what is going on over the nests either. If they can get on that board that would be the second most popular location, right over the open nests.

I'd think the top of those nest dividers would be the next favorite places. Your two bottom roosts would be least favorite. The top of the boards forming the lip of your nests is the same height so they would be equally popular as your current lowest roosts..

The roost bar is about 40" long. I'm planning on putting curtains up over the boxes to help deter them from sleeping/perching on them. I'm going to take one of the boxes and turn it into storage (I'm hoping). Over the nests is just a lip (the framing for them). I don't think they would want to rest on it....but I could be wrong...LOL.

 

[aart]

I'd lose the top one, they'll crash getting down.
...and eliminate the nest divider spot by extending the dividers as shown here:

 

[rosemarythyme]

These units are always tricky since the default roosts are inches off the ground, so trying to find the right spots to better place them is a pain.

At a glance that high roost looks like it doesn't have enough head room for more than 1 or 2 birds... and probably not enough clearance for them to land coming down off of it either.

Since I can't see all 4 walls in the photos, would it work to install roosts 90 degrees perpendicular to the existing ones? Since the window (and possibly your access door are in the way) you could try building a free standing roost that simply stands off the ground?

 

[HyperCello]

These units are always tricky since the default roosts are inches off the ground, so trying to find the right spots to better place them is a pain.

At a glance that high roost looks like it doesn't have enough head room for more than 1 or 2 birds... and probably not enough clearance for them to land coming down off of it either.

Since I can't see all 4 walls in the photos, would it work to install roosts 90 degrees perpendicular to the existing ones? Since the window (and possibly your access door are in the way) you could try building a free standing roost that simply stands off the ground?

Yeah, I think I'm going to remove the top one...it just seems so high! My access door is the entire wall that I took the photos from, so no chance to attach it to that wall. Making a free-standing one sounds interesting....I will research that! My biggest problem is I'm not the most handy.....LOL