Starting out, MANY questions

[Rhendera]

As you have seen most often one sees 2" by 4" or smaller being used for roosts. Given that you have 2" by 6" on hand I would use it as is or rip it down using a table/circular saw (make sure to round the edges to avoid splinters). If your chickens don't like it they will let you know and you can adjust. The only issue I see is that your roosts will take more space (should be 12" from wall and from other roosts) adds 2" per to the space required.

Do you have any more handy design tips that a newbie like me might not know about? Like the 12" spacing from the wall? I had no idea, besides the fact that they shouldn't be right up against the wall. Or maybe an article or something? By the way, I just got some 2x4's .. cheap and easy enough

For your "drawers" does that mean you're intending to pick them up or pull them to empty? I strongly urge you to make a test model first, sand and all, and actually try handling it and seeing if that's feasible. Most drawer builds don't work as intended.

That's why I put it in quotes, as it'll have the shape of a drawer but won't actually do any moving unless maybe once or twice a year for a deep clean.

I've been reading about Sweet PDZ But can't find a place to buy it locally in Canada for a reasonable price. Any alternatives? I sent the manufacturer an email asking if they know of any retailers in my area. Just sand?

Does anyone want to share their poop board pics, and more specifically, how they are mounted and if they are easily removable for cleaning?

 

[Friendly_Lurker]

 

[Ridgerunner]

Does anyone want to share their poop board pics, and more specifically, how they are mounted and if they are easily removable for cleaning?

First, what not to do. This is an add-on, I needed a juvenile roost to help integrate juveniles so I put the juvenile roost over my nests. The top of my nests are my "droppings boards", but they are a bit of a pain to scrape. Plan better than this.

This is my built-in brooder under my main roosts. The top is my droppings board. No tray, no bedding, I scrape it off as required. One reason I took this was to show I don't scrape it that often. Since the brooder did to go the length of the wall I put two plastic bins on the floor to catch the droppings on that end. I scrape the top into one of those bins.

Obviously these are not removable for cleaning except for the bins.

 

[Reedo5]

Ill give it a try tonight i im still learnin the ways of the site but im sure i can figuar it out

 

[aart]

Does anyone want to share their poop board pics, and more specifically, how they are mounted and if they are easily removable for cleaning?

Click on pic for more pics.


..and here's some posts about it, they're kind of old, but changes are noted.
...and the threads these posts are in has a ton of examples of poop boards.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-poop-pictures.621363/page-111#post-13179595
Updates:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-poop-pictures.621363/page-178#post-18966048

 

[aart]

Do you have any more handy design tips that a newbie like me might not know about?

Here's some tips on heights:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-should-stuff-be.73427/
Couple more links in my signature.

 

[Rhendera]

Thanks for all the wonderful information guys

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Click on pic for more pics.


..and here's some posts about it, they're kind of old, but changes are noted.
...and the threads these posts are in has a ton of examples of poop boards.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-poop-pictures.621363/page-111#post-13179595
Updates:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-poop-pictures.621363/page-178#post-18966048

@aart I noticed in your pictures that some of your chickens were laying on the poop boards. I have one chicken that likes to roost on the poop boards. Is there anything that can be done to stop them?

 

[Ted Brown]

Do you have any more handy design tips that a newbie like me might not know about? Like the 12" spacing from the wall? I had no idea, besides the fact that they shouldn't be right up against the wall. Or maybe an article or something? By the way, I just got some 2x4's .. cheap and easy enough

One key tip - listen to @aart and look at her articles and threads! She has a wealth of experience and offers great advice.

I have two roosts at the same level, my dropping board is actually multiple 2" by 6" boards laid side by side and extending 32 inches out from the wall. It is too narrow as it provides only 8" from the roost in the front. My birds use the roost sitting in both directions and when they put their butts facing out their droppings hit the outer edges and some drops on the floor. Hard to clean in the winter.

I used vinyl sheet on top of the board and then pure PDZ on top of that. Makes pickup easy. BUT I did not use narrow lengths of wood to cover the edges of the vinyl and the birds have destroyed it in 3 places so far.

BTW PDZ is not sold in Canada. Only thing I can suggest is drive to your nearest Tractor Supply (Virginia MN) and buy 10 bags ($11US/bag and will last you a year). While you are there buy a basic set of meds (Permethrin. Corid, etc.) since none of it is available in Canada except through a vet.

 

[aart]

Is there anything that can be done to stop them?

I see no problem with it, so don't do anything to try to stop it.
I suppose one could take them off the board on put them onto the roost after dark,
not sure they'd stay there tho.