Vertical Dimensions for Roosting Bar/Nesting Box Advice Needed

[BonnieBlue]

I just got the shed I had designed and built finished, and now I need to start the interior build out. I have all of my layout done, except for a few vertical dimensions.

The coop is walk in, but the walls are not terribly high because it is actually under the overhang that comes off of a barn. I figured between sun/heat (metal roof on coop so it won't be absorbing a lot of sun heat even tho it is also white) and extra storm protection actually under the overhang would be good. The run is under the rest of the overhang, which will give me a 16x60 run. But I digress.

On the interior, because my side walls are a bit lower, the windows for ventilation are only 38" from the coop floor, so I need to lower all of the vertical dimensions.

Question 1: The poopboard is 30 inches wide. The roost center is 12 inches from the front, 18 inches from the back wall to hopefully give extra clearance for poop splatters. How much lower than the bottom of the windows do I need to go to avoid (as much as possible) with my roost bar? Is 8" enough? Will that hopefully keep poop from flying into the windows? I am hoping the extra depth will help, so not sure on the vertical distance.

Question 2: Because of the lowered poop board, my nesting box will need to be lower. I don't want it on the floor low, and I know I will be bending over, but I am planning on getting old with this coop. Is 4" vertical distance between the floor of the nesting box and poop board ok? Is 12 inches vertical distance between nesting box floor and the roost enough height distance to deter hens from sleeping in a nesting box?

My primary concern was ventilation so I wanted windows (even lower ones, in addition to vents and the exhaust fans I will have. But that is making the vertical layout challenging.

Right now I have 2 Easter Eggers. Next up will be New Hampshires. Not sure what will come after that, but they will all be in the 5-7 pound range. No bantys and no large breeds.

Any advice would be appreciated since I am going to start the interior build soon.

 

[Intuit]

What's the sq ft of the coop? How tall are the walls? Do you have windows on more than one wall? A diagram may help with your project dimensions

 

[BonnieBlue]

What's the sq ft of the coop? How tall are the walls? Do you have windows on more than one wall? A diagram may help with your project dimensions

The walls are 6.5 ft, and with the framing of the 2x3 windows, they are 38 inches above the floor. The windows (if I go with current vertical dimensions of roost, etc) will be 8 inches over the roosting bar. The peak of the roof will have an exhaust fan in, and an exhaust fan out. Here is a basic diagram of the layout. I hope it makes sense.

 

[Intuit]

The walls are 6.5 ft, and with the framing of the 2x3 windows, they are 38 inches above the floor. The windows (if I go with current vertical dimensions of roost, etc) will be 8 inches over the roosting bar. The peak of the roof will have an exhaust fan in, and an exhaust fan out. Here is a basic diagram of the layout. I hope it makes sense.

Given the dimensions and location of the windows along with the fact that chickens like to roost as high as possible i would place the roots 2 inches below the windows. You may still experience some poop on the windows although I wouldn't expect much.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Given the dimensions and location of the windows along with the fact that chickens like to roost as high as possible i would place the roots 2 inches below the windows. You may still experience some poop on the windows although I wouldn't expect much.

I'd worry about drafts blowing directly on the chickens at night, unless you'd only be opening the windows on the hottest of nights. I definitely wouldn't do it if these windows were permanently open for year-round ventilation.

 

[BonnieBlue]

I'd worry about drafts blowing directly on the chickens at night, unless you'd only be opening the windows on the hottest of nights. I definitely wouldn't do it if these windows were permanently open for year-round ventilation.

They are only going to be opened only on hottest nights. I looked again and found out where I can put a couple of more vents. In vents alone, I will have 12 sq feet of ventilation. The windows on the east and west ends will not be directly on them if they are on the e/w roost, and even with the 3 south windows closed, the 3 south windows closed, that is 16 sq feet of ventilation. That is also not counting the exhaust fans at the peaks, which will pull a lot of stale air and moisture out.

It sounds like with the 3 south windows being 6 inches higher (instead of 8) than the roost I will be ok. That would put the roosts at 32 inches. Compared to what I have now, which is awkward for them, and me, hopefully it will work out for everyone. They will be in a palace instead of the maid's quarters.

If the roosts are in relation to anything to sit on or play on outside, height wise, I am ok, because of a slope where I built the slab, the run is 12-18 inches on a slope from North to South lower than the coop itself.

Thanks for all the input. I am probably over-thinking things.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

They are only going to be opened only on hottest nights. I looked again and found out where I can put a couple of more vents. In vents alone, I will have 12 sq feet of ventilation. The windows on the east and west ends will not be directly on them if they are on the e/w roost, and even with the 3 south windows closed, the 3 south windows closed, that is 16 sq feet of ventilation. That is also not counting the exhaust fans at the peaks, which will pull a lot of stale air and moisture out.

It sounds like with the 3 south windows being 6 inches higher (instead of 8) than the roost I will be ok. That would put the roosts at 32 inches. Compared to what I have now, which is awkward for them, and me, hopefully it will work out for everyone. They will be in a palace instead of the maid's quarters.

If the roosts are in relation to anything to sit on or play on outside, height wise, I am ok, because of a slope where I built the slab, the run is 12-18 inches on a slope from North to South lower than the coop itself.

Thanks for all the input. I am probably over-thinking things.

No, you’re not, because ventilation is so important, even more in winter! And it’s a pain (but still important) to adjust it when you thought you were done.

They love a nighttime breeze on them on hot summer nights.

 

[BonnieBlue]

Thank you. I am in a warm climate, so I worked on this for quite a while looking for where to add ventilation. My only "didn't consider" was the lower walls and how that shifted the windows down. In looking at the door this evening, I think I can add a screen door to the regular solid people door that goes to the run. If I have secure latches from the inside, and use a secure hardware cloth instead of regular screening, I can get extra ventilation that way. It will be the same hardware cloth that is on the vents and windows. That would add a lot of ventilation. Especially for summer or rainy nights when the humidity is higher anyway. I felt like vent fans would be key in winter. I have a very small one on my current coop, and have a hygrometer/thermometer in the coop, and even on rainy days, my coop is a few percentage points lower in humidity than outside.