Roosting bar placement?

[Kchud22]

Unfortunately I'm not done yet. I can post tomorrow. This is the start. That ladder is just leaning against the wall, not used. The lower roost is moving to the short wall to make the L (this area is same as your's 8x6)
View attachment 3081940

OK I get it now. Can the roost go over the top of the nesting boxes? The way I'm setting it up that would be the only long wall the I will have.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

OK I get it now. Can the roost go over the top of the nesting boxes? The way I'm setting it up that would be the only long wall the I will have.

Being a non-fan of poop walls even angled roofs would look to poopy for me so I'd have to have the poop boards/tray's with sand in between the roost and the nest box roof, but YEA that would work........

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Oh I found it.... I like the set up in this (L shape from Dobielover) pic.... https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/better-use-of-space-ideas.1509253/#post-25342344

 

[3KillerBs]

Makes sence. I will just stick with my first plan and it shouldn't be to bad to clean under them. I have seen people talking about poop boards. What are your thoughts?

I'm not a fan of poop boards myself, preferring to just let the poop drop into the deep litter or deep bedding. But people who are fans of them absolutely love them.

Think about how often you want to be cleaning. Some people don't mind scooping out the PDZ on the poop boards daily or, at least, several times a week because they prefer a small daily chore over a less-frequent, larger job. Others dislike having to be constantly cleaning and would rather have one big job infrequently.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Can the roost go over the top of the nesting boxes? The way I'm setting it up that would be the only long wall the I will have.

I'd say only if you're using poop boards. Without poop boards, you're risking poop splatter into the nests.

 

[Kchud22]

When I first introduce my girls to their coop they will be 6 weeks old. Should I start out with the roosts down lower or should they be able to fly up to a 2' roost bar?

 

[rosemarythyme]

When I first introduce my girls to their coop they will be 6 weeks old. Should I start out with the roosts down lower or should they be able to fly up to a 2' roost bar?

They can fly/leap up, unless they're a breed that doesn't fly well.

 

[3KillerBs]

When I first introduce my girls to their coop they will be 6 weeks old. Should I start out with the roosts down lower or should they be able to fly up to a 2' roost bar?

Little ones fly well. It's the big, heavy adults who may or may not be able to fly up to the perch.

The Brahma in my avatar is challenged to get more than 18" off the ground so I made a ramp up to the roost for her.

 

[texsuze]

As the keeper of 5 y.o. and nearly 8 y.o. hens, (with baby chicks on the way) I'd recommend having at least one adequate length roost for chooks who want the option of ease of access. Yes, most chooks can flap themselves up to a 3' tall+ roost, and may like it up there, but it is nice for them to have a roost that requires less energy expenditure sometimes. A variety of heights, IMHO, allows for youngsters and aging hens to be comfortable. Stairstep, ramp, whatever means to get to the roost they want is a nice option for them to have.

 

[TOPChickens14]

Continuing with my coop build and I'm starting to think about placing the roost bars. My coop will be 8' long and 6' wide. I currently have 6 chicks 2 rir, 2 marans and 2 austolorps. I want to get a few easter Eggers as well. So maybe 10 birds total. Would my idea for roost placement be ok or should I move them? I'm planning on using 2x4's. Thanks for the help.

Regarding poop boards, I used to use those plastic dog mat/trays. I positioned them under the roost. I could then take them out and dump them. My coop was too small for that idea and I decided to stop using them. Now what I do, is I have a 12 by 36-inch door at the base of the roost area on the outside. When I need to clean the poop under the roost, I just take a bow rake and scrape the manure out of that opening. My roost setup is different than most people's, I have multiple branches that gradually go upwards so they aren't all the same height. Under this, I have attached welded wire fencing to keep the chickens from digging in the manure. I also had problems with hens laying eggs in the poo and pine shavings, gross. I dump about an inch or two of pine shavings on the floor under their roost and about every 2 to 3 weeks I scrape it out with a bow rake. Just some thoughts. Love the coop!