chicken roost question

[lottie dolly]

It may sound daft to you,i understand a hen flies up to the roost,BUT,does it go at an agle or flutters straight up,the reason i ask is this,i have a plan for the coop,but this one has me stumped,cannot find anything on the net,i just want to get the postioning right,i know they need to be higher than the nest box ext,and the hight can be from a few ins to a few feet,and aprox 16 in from the roof,do they need to have a run at it like a plane at an angle,tolled you it was a daft thing to ask,i need to know so i can add it to my plans,

[Scarlet]

They do go at an angle, they don't fly that well. Pretty much a jump, mad flutter and they are there. How far away from the wall were you going to put it?

[Scarlet]

I say they don't fly that well, if I have some food in my hands they will fly up to perch on the door between two pens, which is about 6ft.

[veggiechicken]

In my old chicken coop (a purpose built wooden one about 6x8 and 5-6' high) the perch was the length of the shed (8') and about waist height - about the same height as the nest boxes.
In the kennel the perch is a couple of inches above the floor as shown in the pics.
Hens' aren't brilliant fliers so don't put t too high. They jump, rather than run at it.

[lottie dolly]

thank you girls,aprox 18 in as per recommended for the sake of the wall,the planes are for an 8ft x4ft and 4ft high,including the nest boxe's at the shorter side,with a big window on the front,i have read about how they can fight over window space hehe,in all they will have a 4x4 with almost 7ft,i can get 1 long roost down the centre,that gives about 2 foot each side to flutter up,or 2 at different heights,across the 4 ft other end from the nest boxes,or 2 diaganols,at the moment i am obsecced with all things for their needs,

[veggiechicken]

Lottie, I've just taken some photos of the old coop that may help. Excuse the clutter - its just a store for their food etc now.



This is one of the nest boxes - they're attached to the back of the coop with a lift up lid so I could collect the eggs without going into the shed.

The bar on the left has 2 notches cut out, into which the perches dropped. You can see a cup hook below the notch. The perch had a strip of car inner tube at the end which hooked onto the hook so that the chooks, couldn't knock the perch out of the slot. (They did when they jumped up sometimes).



I've put the perch in, so you can see how high it is.

Don't forget ventilation in your plans.

[veggiechicken]

How will you clean it out? Can you get in the shed with your plans?

[Bigmallly]

Lottie, if you are worried about the height, why not put a ladder at one end that they can walk up & down onto the perch.

[lottie dolly]

thanks peeps,this is a very rough sketch of my plan for the coop,showing the floor area,1 cnt mtre,=1 foot,when i have done it all properly i will post the plans,do you thing my area for the roosts is ok,i like drawing me plans,it helps to see any flaws and no no's,if all goes to plan,it will be 18 in above ground,any vents will be higher than the hens,or they will get a draft,just want them to be happy and me do what's right,i know.am a bloomin fuss pot cluck cluck bock bock

oh dear,it's upside down and blured

[veggiechicken]

Can't make it clearer, sorry!

[Bigmallly]

Just put 1 roosting bar in front of the nest boxes. You can then put some gravel trays underneath for fertilizer collection.

[veggiechicken]

Lets start at the beginning!
What size is the shed?
Where is the door?
Where is the window?
Does it open?
How many hens do you want?

[lottie dolly]

I will draw up my plans,then you will see and understand the jibber,the baisics are,raised 18in off ground,8' x 4'x 4ft high,2 doors at the back for cleaning out,the big window in the shed pics at the front,nest boxes to one side,with a raised door to get the eggs,completly the other end a window yet to be saught,the pop hole on the front nest box side,air vents high up,the large front wind will open in the centre if needed in hot weather,and will be meshed,roost to be removable,i would like 6 birds.the pen run will go under the coop for shelter from sun exetra,plus an entertainment park for their pleasure,i yet have to decide wich way to run water off the roof,as i intend to have it run into barrels,

[veggiechicken]

I thought you were using the shed you were given - so I'm puzzled by the 4' high measurement!

[lottie dolly]

WE are,the idea was cut it to suit,we going to pull down the ragged poly tunnel for the space,god damit you have me thinking again ,as at the back is the one off the men cave's/scrape yard ext,so more height could be better aha,the door is no good all burned and no floor,we need to have a proper look at what we have got and use what's suitable,never mind about the nutters club,my brain has gone cluckers,i need a good old think here when the tunnel is down,and survey the vista,just when i thought it was sorted.

more to come as i pressed the wrong button grrr