There are so many options to building roosts, but I really think the 2 X 4 with the wide side flat so chickens can have their feet in a normal position, which is flat, not curled, as in hanging onto round roost like dowel are best. Phew long sentence, but oh well, too lazy to correct. There are some awesome designs for roosts and you will see many, diversity is what this ol’ world is all about, and it is indeed an interesting place, smiling.
Two of my coops are in the big coop. Separated by poultry wire. The roosts were made in the fashion you see because I only had one area at that time for the birds. Since then, the area has three separations. My Husband did quite a bit of work to cut notches in the 2 X 6 to lay the 2 X 4s in, to help with strength. Chickens can be very heavy when there is a good many of them. The lowest rung on the roost is about 18 inches off the ground, with increments going up to the third level. All birds try to squeeze on the top rung, probably warmer. I like to have a low rung, then the ones that are higher and higher, this allows the birds to easily jump from one rung to the next. Large, heavy birds are heavy. I once upon a time, a long time ago, read that heavy birds should not have too far to jump down onto ground from the roost, as they can cause injury with the heavy weight, banging on the ground. They have an easy time to jump from level to level. Building is fun and you will probably design or redesign over and over. My poor Husband, I don’t think the designing will ever end. He builds, redesigns, tears down, rebuilds, redesigns, you get the picture. Personally, I think I have the perfect set up for me, so easy to take care of my critters and I love what I have. I am sure there will still be more designing, building, tearing down and redesigning and rebuilding. Thankin’ me lucky stars I have a Husband that loves to do that, and would move heaven and the very earth for me if he could, so I let him do these things, smiling that big smile. Enjoy the pictures, and you will have awesome roosts, taking a little information from your forum friends, have an awesome day, CynthiaM.
The nest box you see in the picture is one of the old styles, before Husband built me new ones. We used these back on the coast, and boy did those Muscovy ducks ever love to brood their babies in those boxes, sometimes two would go in there. And that was also where a turkey mamma had squeezed in to raise her babies. Not with the ducks, but birds love to brood in quiet, dark places and this was perfect....
Oh I thought I would add a picture of my nest boxes too. These are the extra ones. I hang them on the wall to keep them out of my hair. It is so handy to have so many extra nest boxes that I can put anywhere. I speak to having broody hens. I can place their little brooding boxes anywhere I would like and this sure does come in handy. Like now, with 5 brooding mammas and probably many more to come. When the mamma chick hatches out the eggs, and after a few days, I take that nest box away, hang it back up on the wall and she nests on the floor, in a separated area for about 10 days, to get the sea legs going on her babies. I have double nest boxes, but I like for the broodies the single ones.
The nest boxes are quite light, maybe 15 pounds each and have a handle on them, so easy to move around.
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