What size pvc pipe for roost?

[Joy Cluck]

Not to hijack this thread...but... how far from the wall should the 2X4 be extended by the supports?

 

[Opa]

at least 12"

 

[Joy Cluck]

Thank you... is there an "ideal" height off the ground?

 

[ging3rhoffman]

Thank you for all of the replies. We are no longer going to use the pvc pipe. Im so thankful for this website and those who respond so quickly to post.

 

[Opa]

I too am thankful for this site. It's wonderful having a place with like minded helpful people where you can get answers to problems and wind up making friends at the same time.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
The ideal height is higher than anything else in there they could roost on. Almost all chickens instinctively go to the highest roost they can. Smaller breeds can fly up to them, if they have room to fly. Heavier breeds need a way to get up to them, either a ladder or steps. They can negotiate steps 12" apart horizontally and 12" apart vertically until they get up to the roost. Even for smaller breeds I'd recommend steps or a ladder. Less drama with birds bumping into each other getting up and down plus I don't have to decide what is a heavier breed.

 

[greyhorsewoman]

We made a pvc pipe roost in our original little coop in the corner of the barn because we had a bunch left over from another project. It was 1- 1/2 inch and we made them pretty long. Been using it for about 8 years now.

The birds have done fine .... we made them pretty long, so they sag slightly when a bunch of birds get on, but it hasn't seemed a big deal.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I've read 18" away from the wall and 12" between the individual roosts. Sometimes people complain about the poop hitting the wall and sliding down it, making a nasty mess. A couple of the people with that problem mentioned they had their roosts closer to the wall than 18". Maybe the 18" recommendation takes poop trajectory into account.

I think a lot of it depends on how much room you have, too. I know in the tractor we built, we just didn't have the space to work with, that we had in the shed coop. So, some of our spacing was a little tighter. When I can, I go 18" though.

 

[Big Chicken Little]

Why not get some "full round" from the lumber yard. It is what is used in closets and comes in 1 1/2 and is like a dowel but can had in lengths like 8' and 10' ...wood is so much better than plastic plus plastic will bend with weight

 

[Joy Cluck]

Quote:

Thank you all very much!