Roosting bars

[Monchicks]

So you have a vent that's shut and some windows but it looks like they're glass or plastic? Do those windows open up?

Technically roosts can be just above ground level but most chickens aren't going to like being so low as their instincts tell them to get up higher for safety. That's why they need to be higher than nests, so the nests don't look like a better option to sleep in. Also you need clearance for bedding/litter under the roosts so they're not sitting in their poop, so at the very minimum you'd want them maybe 3-4 inches (10 cm) above the height of the litter.

What I'd suggest in this case is converting the coop and mini run into a larger coop, which will provide more floor space, more ventilation, and give you more room to place roosts as well. You would then need to add on or place the coop inside an appropriate sized run, or plan on free ranging full time.

To turn it from 2 small "boxes" (tiny coop above tiny run) into 1 bigger "box" you'll want to remove as much of the inside coop wall as possible, plus the floor. Take out the old roosts too.

Nests might be able to stay as is, or may need to be relocated elsewhere or replaced - depends on the structure of the coop and how things inside stack up once done.

Run a new roost(s) lengthwise or widthwise across the newly open space, depending on how much roost is needed. Ideally you’d like 12” per bird but 10” can suffice in many cases.

Board up some of the external wire walls so that the roost area is protected from winds and rain. Do NOT fully cover up all the wire, you need ventilation and natural light, so at the very least a few inches under the roofline should remain open. If your climate allows for it, you can leave entire walls open with just the mesh, or make it convertible for the season by covering up open walls for winter, and then uncovering for summer.

Example of a modified prefab: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-renovated-prefab-coop.1440258/

The window doesn't open but the upper vent opens and has mesh. And there is an opening to the lower bit. Thanks for such a detailed answer, the girls will be free range during the day, they have the whole side of the house with grass.
I think maybe switching it for a cubby would be easier than renovating it. It was sold as a chicken coop so I thought it was good to go! Didn't know about roosts until I started doing heaps of research while the babies are growing.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The way I determine the elevation of things inside the coop is to start with the floor. Determine the height including bedding. Any openings (people door, pop door, or access door) should be high enough that the chickens cannot easily scratch out the bedding.

Then position the nests. Some people put the nests down very low, even at floor level. In your coop, the bottom nest level may be below floor level. Some people like the nests up high enough they don't have to bend over to see inside them. People tend to care about this a lot more than the chickens do. Yours looks like a convenient height for you to access them from the outside. The chickens can easily access them from the inside. I don't see any issues there.

Then position the roosts. Chickens usually like to sleep as high as they can, it's instinctive. So put your roosts above anything you do not want them to sleep on or in, like nets or feeders. In a large coop 12" higher is usually sufficient. In a small coop like yours, 6" above anything else might be high enough.

In colder climates you want your roosts to be lower than your winter ventilation so cold winds do not hit them while on the roost. In Melbourne you might possibly see freezing temperatures based on your record lows but I'd expect those years to be really rare. I don't think you have to worry too much about a breeze hitting them on the roosts most years. I think that would be rare enough that I'd do something special when it happened (like closing a vent or window) instead of building special for it. From the photo I think you can install your roosts low enough so that is not a concern anyway.

If you had a walk-in coop and more room to play with I'd suggest the roosts be higher for a couple of reasons. But you don't so that is not relevant.

Good luck!

 

[Monchicks]

The way I determine the elevation of things inside the coop is to start with the floor. Determine the height including bedding. Any openings (people door, pop door, or access door) should be high enough that the chickens cannot easily scratch out the bedding.

Then position the nests. Some people put the nests down very low, even at floor level. In your coop, the bottom nest level may be below floor level. Some people like the nests up high enough they don't have to bend over to see inside them. People tend to care about this a lot more than the chickens do. Yours looks like a convenient height for you to access them from the outside. The chickens can easily access them from the inside. I don't see any issues there.

Then position the roosts. Chickens usually like to sleep as high as they can, it's instinctive. So put your roosts above anything you do not want them to sleep on or in, like nets or feeders. In a large coop 12" higher is usually sufficient. In a small coop like yours, 6" above anything else might be high enough.

In colder climates you want your roosts to be lower than your winter ventilation so cold winds do not hit them while on the roost. In Melbourne you might possibly see freezing temperatures based on your record lows but I'd expect those years to be really rare. I don't think you have to worry too much about a breeze hitting them on the roosts most years. I think that would be rare enough that I'd do something special when it happened (like closing a vent or window) instead of building special for it. From the photo I think you can install your roosts low enough so that is not a concern anyway.

If you had a walk-in coop and more room to play with I'd suggest the roosts be higher for a couple of reasons. But you don't so that is not relevant.

Good luck!

Thank you very much! Super helpful

 

[Sefirothe]

The window doesn't open but the upper vent opens and has mesh. And there is an opening to the lower bit. Thanks for such a detailed answer, the girls will be free range during the day, they have the whole side of the house with grass.
I think maybe switching it for a cubby would be easier than renovating it. It was sold as a chicken coop so I thought it was good to go! Didn't know about roosts until I started doing heaps of research while the babies are growing.

If they have access to the outside of that coop, you may find them roosting on the roof of the coop.

As everyone before has said, most chickens are going to go for the highest flattish point they can access. Coop roof. Deck railing, lawn tractor hood, etc.

This was the night before my first flock was moved into their permanent coop. They slept on top of their prefab for most of the time they were in this temp pen.

 

[Monchicks]

If they have access to the outside of that coop, you may find them roosting on the roof of the coop.

As everyone before has said, most chickens are going to go for the highest flattish point they can access. Coop roof. Deck railing, lawn tractor hood, etc.

This was the night before my first flock was moved into their permanent coop. They slept on top of their prefab for most of the time they were in this temp pen.

View attachment 4249741

They wont have access to the outside at night time so the roost we put in should be the highest point available. Thehre so cute