Roosts

[chickmamataylor]

Hi all! We are working on the inside of our coop and trying to figure out the roost situation. Our coop is a 4'x6' raised house with attached run and popped out nest boxes. The whole 6' back of the house will open for easy cleaning and the best boxes are on the 4' section.

My husband wants to do an angled ladder style. I'm concerned that the bottom birds will get pooped on. Also I want to use a poop board to collect droppings and am not sure how to incorporate into the ladder style.

Can anyone share some insight about them with me? Inside pictures are a plus

Thanks!

 

[PapaChaz]

here's mine. top one is 12" from the wall, bottom one is 15" lower than that and 18" from the wall. poop tray is 26" wide, 3" deep lined with vinyl flooring with about 1 1/2" of sand and sweet PDZ mixed in. Sure is easy to take the kitty litter scoop and a coffee can and keep it cleaned out




you didn't say, but how many chickens will you have in there?

 

[chickmamataylor]

Do they ever roost backwards and poo on the lower hens? Right now I've got a roost bar set up in the brooder and they sit on it facing both ways. I'm afraid if the ones on the upper roost face the back of the henhouse that the lower hens will get pooped on all night! Or are they good about not pooping on their friends

 

[PapaChaz]

Do they ever roost backwards and poo on the lower hens? Right now I've got a roost bar set up in the brooder and they sit on it facing both ways. I'm afraid if the ones on the upper roost face the back of the henhouse that the lower hens will get pooped on all night! Or are they good about not pooping on their friends

I haven't realized it if it's happened, I would think the ones on the lower roost would though, LOL. actually, the ones I have so far that are getting up there, all huddle up together on the same roost. At least that's the way I've found them in the mornings. I'm guessing each few days a few more of them will realize some are missing, and follow them up there. I have a total of 14, and I have 16' of roost bars.......they'll probably all roost together in about 6 or 7 ft on one of the bars........it's what they do!

 

[MrPython]

I'm busy building my coop still and being under a bit of self imposed pressure I need to make the best of the off time I have.
Yesterday right in the middle of peak motivation, load-shedding kicks in

(the government power infrastructure is ailing so they switch off the power for 2 hours/day)

So in a rage I decided for the roosts I would use the branches I cut down to make them. The chainsaw runs on petrol and the cordless drill was charged.
It worked out quite well, Guava and Pepper tree branches.

 

[PapaChaz]

I'm busy building my coop still and being under a bit of self imposed pressure I need to make the best of the off time I have.
Yesterday right in the middle of peak motivation, load-shedding kicks in

(the government power infrastructure is ailing so they switch off the power for 2 hours/day)

So in a rage I decided for the roosts I would use the branches I cut down to make them. The chainsaw runs on petrol and the cordless drill was charged.
It worked out quite well, Guava and Pepper tree branches.

lots of people use branches for roosts, they work well provided they're big enough!