Roosts and poop boards.

[WestoftheRest]

So I have finally gotten around to installing my poop boards and roosts. My question is, How far above the board does my roost need to be? I will be able to take out my roost bar fairly easy so cleaning shouldn’t be an issue. TIA

 

[blackdog043]

You don't need it to high, as long as you can get under it to scoop. Since you can remove the roost bar, you can keep it lower. Mine is about 6 - 7 inches above the board. I lift the whole roost board up and sit the ends on on 2 x 3's attached to the walls , so it's up and out of my way to scoop.

 

[WestoftheRest]

You don't need it to high, as long as you can get under it to scoop. Since you can remove the roost bar, you can keep it lower. Mine is about 6 - 7 inches above the board. I lift the whole roost board up and sit the ends on on 2 x 3's attached to the walls , so it's up and out of my way to scoop.

View attachment 1450976

How far above the floor are your poop boards? Do you have a ramp up to them?

 

[blackdog043]

The board is about 40 inches high. They get up from the nest box or from the their old roost sitting in front of the board.

 

[jthornton]

Mine are about 8" above the floor of the roosting area. It's a bit of a pain to clean because it's based on a poor design found on the Internet because I didn't know any better at the time. But all the designs you find on the Internet share one thing in common they are all poor designs.



It doesn't really matter how high the roost is above the poop board. Just make it easy for you to clean.

JT

 

[aart]

How far above the board does my roost need to be?

It can depend on 2 things.
How wide is your board?
The narrower it is, the lower you want roost to avoid 'over-shoots'.
...and how do you plan to 'clean'?

I went with 24" wide with 1 roost centered 8" above board filled with 1/2" of sand/PDZ.
I made my roosts removable, but I sift everyday and don't want to handle the roosts, ended up screwing them down as I can reach under with my short hoe.
Here's how I do.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/6...raphic-gross-poop-pictures/1100#post_13179595
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-poop-pictures.621363/page-178#post-18966048

 

[WestoftheRest]

It can depend on 2 things.
How wide is your board?
The narrower it is, the lower you want roost to avoid 'over-shoots'.
...and how do you plan to 'clean'?

I went with 24" wide with 1 roost centered 8" above board filled with 1/2" of sand/PDZ.
I made my roosts removable, but I sift everyday and don't want to handle the roosts, ended up screwing them down as I can reach under with my short hoe.
Here's how I do.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/6...raphic-gross-poop-pictures/1100#post_13179595
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-poop-pictures.621363/page-178#post-18966048

Mine are 24” as well. Was thinking of putting the roosts a foot above but lower is no problem.

After looking at you pic I think I will need to add a ramp to the mix. Your boards seem lower than mine.

 

[aart]

After looking at you pic I think I will need to add a ramp to the mix. Your boards seem lower than mine.

Needing ramps or not can depend on your birds and the width of your coop.
Board is about 33" above floor.
I put ramps in because my coop is only 6' wide and some of the birds were flying into the wall, mostly due to being new to the coop...but I had a few large brahmas that were rather clumsy. Some birds use the ramps, some fly/jump down. The ramps can make it harder for me to move around the coop, but not usually.

 

[bajabirdbrain]

I see that many of the pictures of poop boards show that they have sides, thus making the poop boards trays. The only thing the sides do is make it more difficult to scoop or slide the poop into a container. Poop doesn't roll around and need sides, does it?

Here is BB just sliding poop off the board into a plastic container with a kitty litter shovel. VERY quick and easy. We dispose of the poop into a plastic garbage can and when necessary dump that into a composting area where grass clippings, brush etc. go. Every once in awhile she will remove the poop boards and wash them with water and clorox. The boards are covered in a thin vinyl sheeting.

 

[aart]

I see that many of the pictures of poop boards show that they have sides, thus making the poop boards trays. The only thing the sides do is make it more difficult to scoop or slide the poop into a container. Poop doesn't roll around and need sides, does it?

Sides are needed if one uses sand/PDZ.
Lots of ways to catch the poop