Stacked roosting bars, double decker with deep bedding

[Nonafel]

Greetings. Wanted input before I did this.

I have a 8x12 chicken wagon, restricted to around 7x8 for roosting bars space.
My goal is to fit more chickens in this small space by going vertical.
I would use a larger coop area but larger can't move around the woods well.

Thus my goal was to create a single layer of 5 roosting bars over the wagons deep litter bed, then add another 3 with their own "poop tray" deep litter box that has a removable bottom for easy cleaning. I'd simply open it up to drop whats there to the lower floor level and add more as needed.

Sadly I don't have great images of the interior of the wagon, but you can sorta picture this design in the photo provided.
Also many thanks to all on backyard chickens, I've been reading for a while and it's been extremely helpful.

 

[Appalachickens]

Greetings. Wanted input before I did this.

I have a 8x12 chicken wagon, restricted to around 7x8 for roosting bars space.
My goal is to fit more chickens in this small space by going vertical.
I would use a larger coop area but larger can't move around the woods well.

Thus my goal was to create a single layer of 5 roosting bars over the wagons deep litter bed, then add another 3 with their own "poop tray" deep litter box that has a removable bottom for easy cleaning. I'd simply open it up to drop whats there to the lower floor level and add more as needed.

Sadly I don't have great images of the interior of the wagon, but you can sorta picture this design in the photo provided.
Also many thanks to all on backyard chickens, I've been reading for a while and it's been extremely helpful.

I'm assuming it's tall enough to hold two layers? Seems like that could work, but then the issues is how much chicken-to-overall space will you have in there?

Also just a note about terminology - you're actually talking about deep bedding rather than deep litter. Deep litter is a composting system which requires being on actual ground. I have deep litter in my run, and just keep dumping in more leaves, and deep bedding in my wood-bottomed coop, with 10+ inches of pine shavings, pellets and hemp.

 

[FunClucks]

Looks like a good idea, I'd just try it and see how it goes. Chickens always want to roost at the highest point, so you may just get a bunch of chickens fighting over the top roosts and perching on the edges of the poop tray, and pooping on the chickens below. But until you try it, you won't know for sure. Making the current roosts longer would work better, IMO, or building a second trailer. But you are limited on space. I think your design looks good, as long as your upper poop tray extends to the sides of the roost enough that when the birds poop they don't get the birds below them. I actually measured the distance from my chickens feet when perched to their vents when they sat on the perch when I built mine. measuring tape + chicken = a fun time.

One thing to consider - you can put spiky plastic bird deterrent strips on the edges of the poop box, if you need to do something to deter them from roosting on the edges. They can walk around and thru them, but it's not a comfy roost.

 

[Nonafel]

Bird deterrent strips wasn't something I considered but I'll keep that in mind.
I'll be sure to post final results with and without occupants when finished.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Bird deterrent strips sounds like a recipe for bumblefoot, if the birds' feet get injured.

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

Greetings. Wanted input before I did this.

I have a 8x12 chicken wagon, restricted to around 7x8 for roosting bars space.
My goal is to fit more chickens in this small space by going vertical.
I would use a larger coop area but larger can't move around the woods well.

Thus my goal was to create a single layer of 5 roosting bars over the wagons deep litter bed, then add another 3 with their own "poop tray" deep litter box that has a removable bottom for easy cleaning. I'd simply open it up to drop whats there to the lower floor level and add more as needed.

Sadly I don't have great images of the interior of the wagon, but you can sorta picture this design in the photo provided.
Also many thanks to all on backyard chickens, I've been reading for a while and it's been extremely helpful.

nonafel,
How birds do you have now? You have 96 sq ft of floor space which translates to 24 chickens if you use accepted numbers. Five roosting bars is more (IMO) than enough for 24 birds. As we all have experienced, all 24 will try to roost on the same perch.

 

[Nonafel]

How birds do you have now?

52 at present, but the goal as to add around 70 more for the wagons capacity.
It's just a place for them to sleep at night. I've been using a value of 15 birds per 8 foot of roosting bar.
The wagon is open access to an electric fenced in area of just under 3k square feet, easily increased by adding more fencing and they are rotated each week to a new location.

I only lock them in a night before a morning move. With the two raised interior walkways and attached communal nesting area there provide more space than the dimensions would imply for short term holdings.

 

[FunClucks]

Bird deterrent strips wasn't something I considered but I'll keep that in mind.
I'll be sure to post final results with and without occupants when finished.

I've found these to work fine, without injury. A determined hen can even walk along the strip, when secured to the flat side of a 2"x4", and it doesn't hurt her. But they make the area uncomfortable for roosting.