What’s the best roost height for buff Orpington.

[Tom310218]

Setting up my coop and was wondering hat the best roost height, I know higher than the nest boxes but is there a best height, I can go to about 7 ft. I’ve got buff Orpington, black astrology, gold laced wine dot, and buckeyes.
Thanks
Tom

 

[New2Chicks97]

I think the trick is to offer them a few heights and then they can freely go between levels as they do choose. I have three that roost on a wooden shelf that was part of the original shed. It is about 3’6” off of the ground. My Light Brahma & her Buff Orpington BFF and also our 2 year old Black Copper Marans. They have never tried to get to the higher roost. Not sure the Brahma could make a rooster higher than this and she is a big girl!

We have another roost that is close to 5’ off the ground and my better fliers like our Easter Eggers, Sexlinks & Wyandotte’s. The rooster and the youngest BCM girls take the lower roost that is about 2’6” off the ground. I think they would be on a higher roost if I had another one or more room on the other.

Revamping my roosts is on my list of to do’s for this spring.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Setting up my coop and was wondering hat the best roost height, I know higher than the nest boxes but is there a best height, I can go to about 7 ft. I’ve got buff Orpington, black astrology, gold laced wine dot, and buckeyes.
Thanks
Tom

Sounds like all yours are the larger heritage breeds, so I would not make the roosts too high, only because they can hurt themselves coming down if they land wrong. I think good heights are 2-4 feet with enough landing space. I’m sure the learning center on this site has information on that and the pros and cons of different heights for different breeds of chickens. I have all large breed chickens and none of my roosts are above 4 ft.

 

[CindyinSD]

I made this one as a ladder. Three rungs. You have to space the rungs out so that the higher ones don’t poop on the lower ones. Also, if you lay the 2x4s wide side up, they can sit on their feet, so as not to get frostbitten toes. I fastened it to the wall behind and to the plywood floor (since there is one).

The “generally regarded as enough” rule that I read is one ft of roost space per bird. Mine mash up a lot closer than that, tho. A couple do sleep in the nesting boxes. One has just given up being broody and the other is bottom of the pecking order, so I let her do that since the others would pick on her otherwise.

Here are my nesting boxes. I know they’re a little high, but I wanted room below them to make a nest for a broody hen (or maybe two) at some point when I have a boy or two to make those eggs magic. It is also fastened to the floor.

 

[CindyinSD]

I should have said also... the more dominant birds will take the highest roosts. None of mine sleep on the bottom rung, but if I had more, then I expect they would. The bottom rung gives them a way to climb up and down (not that they always use it) so they’re less likely to get hurt in the small shed space. It also stabilizes the ladder.

If I become concerned about overuse of the nesting boxes for sleeping, I’ll hang a tarp over them at night and roll it up in the morning.