Roosts in an 8X8 coop

[NickyPick]

Now that the coop is up, I've got to plan on how to arrange the inside. It's an 8X8 with 4x2 windows on 3 walls about 4-5 feet up. I have EE's, Orps, Wyandottes and Brahmas. I was thinking having one long bar all across one side about 5 feet up. Would they be able to get up this high? Do I need to have an intermediary roost closer to the ground?

 

[Country Parson]

They can get up that high no problem. I usually make my roosts about 4ft off the ground, but lots of other make them higher. Before I put my roosts up and closed off the rafters (to conserve heat), the chickens would jump up and roost in the 9 ft ceiling rafters.

 

[teach1rusl]

At that height, I'd do a step up roost or a chicken ladder. The EEs and Wyans would probably do okay, but those bigger girls might have a problem. And with those bigger girls, that's a lot of pressure/weight on their legs when they fly/hop down and hit the floor.

 

[NickyPick]

Ok, so maybe a 5ft one and a 3ft one. If they're parallel, how far apart should they be so that the ones on the lower roost don't get pooped on?

 

[Country Parson]

My heavy breeds (Barred Rocks) were almost always up in the rafters. I've also noticed that my more dominate hens seem to roost higher up, and I've been told there is a natural pecking order for roost spots. Currently I have one roost which is 2-3 longer than needed (in terms of being able to fit all the hens), but some hens opt to roost on top of or in the next box or the window sill. They seem to like options. It would be good to add a couple of different height options.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My roosts are about 4 feet high. Your Brahmas are probably bigger than anything else I have, but mine are similar to your others. Mine can fly straight to the roosts. I suspect yours could too at five feet. But my nest boxes are along a side wall two or three feet back from the roosts. Almost all of mine use the top of the nest box as an intermediate step. I think you would be better off with an intermediate step for them to use on the way up. Another roost half way up would not be a bad idea.

I'm not sure why you settled on five feet. Mine are about the level of the bottom of the windows. The prime preferred roosting spot is next to the window where they can see out. As far as ventilation goes, they don't need to be above the windows. Equal to or below works well.

I suggest you consider puttting the roosts as low as possible and still keep them noticably higher than the nest boxes. They have to be noticably higher than anything else in there so they will use them. I think you know that. But there are a couple of reasons I suggest trying to have them as low as reasonable. One, chickens are fairly clumsy flyers. Mine fly straight to the ground instead of using an intermediate step. The higher the roosts are, the more horizontal room they need to fly down without hitting walls, nest boxes, feeders, or anything else. In an 8'x8' coop, that is probably not a big problem for you.

The other reason is that the larger birds, like Brahmas, can injure their legs when landing from the roost. It is not that they break legs or jam joints each and every time they come down. They don't. They spread their wings and fly down so they are not just launching themselves and cannonballing down. If five feet is a reasonable height for your roosts considering the layout and such, they will probably be OK. But there is always a chance they will hurt themselves. It is not something I would obsess about, but I think it is good practice to put the roosts as low as reasonable to reduce the chances of an accident.

Good luck!


Editted to add:

The normal recommendation is about one foot horizontal separation on the different roosts. Mine are all the same height but looking at them, I'd probably go a bit more than 12" if they were staggered height. 12" just looks too close for falling poop.

 

[6chicks&aduck]

here's mine they are 2x4 ,7ft long the lowone is at 4 ft off the ground , i also have alower one along the back for them At 2 ft hope this helps

 

[Chicklette 1]

I just made a narrow ladder up to the roosts so those that want to use it can and those that want to fly up and down also have that option. With the ladder, you can put your roosts at any height that suits you. ..............my hens do it both ways but they definitely use the ladder a lot. Hope that give you another solution.

 

[elmo]

I have roosts on a single level in an "L" configuration, held up by shelf supports, and underneath, boot trays on a shelf also held up by shelf supports.

Our chickens sometimes use the edge of the boot trays as an intermediate stop on the way up to the roost, but they don't roost there.

 

[dnowa1975]

I have my roosts at different heights in the coops...and I like to use old wooden ladders...like the kind that roofers use. Have gotten some free off craigslist. Just cut to size and put in the coop and there are many levels for the birds...and when its time to clean its very easy to remove.