I notice my chickens were fighting over roosting bars and I solve the problem in four hours. Let me teach you How to Build a Chicken Roosting Bar for beginners.
How to Build a Chicken Roosting Bar Video
Raising chickens provides me with a tremendous amount of joy. Hens are very interesting to watch, and they also provide my family with fresh, nutrition dense food to bake and cook here on the farm.
These little birds are very easy keep; however, they can be very bossy. Roosting bars in the hen house is a high premium!
Chickens do not like to sleep in their nesting boxes or at ground level. After owning my ladies for a year, they love to sleep high, and they fight for the primo spot.
My chickens literally have their name written on who’s roosting bar belongs to whom!
When it is dark and especially when it is cold you will find chickens high keeping warm and protecting themselves from nighttime predators.
Chickens love to rest in elevators roosting bars and keep feet, combs and wattles tuck in their feathers and off the ground. My chickens will fly up and perch, curl their toes and tuck everything in and turn into an adorable, feathery ball.
The nesting box should only be used for laying eggs and if you notice your girls in their boxes, it maybe that there is not adequate space to roost.
How Many Roosting Bars per Chicken?
Chickens need to roost for their psychological health, and it is in their blood. Also, chicken need to be off the ground to not only keep from predators but, out of their nesting boxes and off the ground where bacteria may breed.
Keep in mind, chickens should have enough roosting bars to roost. There should be about nine to twelve inches for chickens to roost and it is nice to have at the same height. Roosting bars should never be on top of each other but, staggered; no chicken likes to be pooped on! You want chicken poop to fall nicely to the ground.
If your roosting bars are at varies heights the chicken that is higher in the highest in the peaking order will get “First Dimps” leaving the followers on lower roost.
Finally, keep roosting bars about a foot and a half from the exterior walls. The exterior walls will usually be too hot or cold depending on the climate. These queen chicken will huddle closer to each other and the center when it is colder outside.
What is the Peaking Order in Chickens?
Chickens are very social and usually flock together with a rooster close by to protect and oversee the girls. With any group it needs to be organize by order with the daily activities of forging, roosting, bathing and nesting.
The highest authority in the flock eats first, roost high and are bossy. Often the hen will walk and strut high and push her chest forward.
Pecking order in a flock of chickens is establish early. I got my girls in two separate trips and clearly my Rhode Island Red ladies are in charge and my sweet Barnevelders do try to hold their own.
Now that the pecking order is there, pecking and harming each other could happen. So far, I have not seen much in my flock but, space and not having bored chickens is key. Roosting bars need to provide enough space for each bird and before this becomes an issue I am going to build a easy DIY roosting bar so each of my hens will have a cozy spot at night.
How Wide Should a Chicken Roosting Bar Be?
Your roosting bars should be at least 2×2 wide and space twelve inching apart. Roosting bars need to be at least two feet off the ground and if space is limited create a stairway to get from one roosting bar to the other.
Chicken roosting bars should not be rough and smooth to prevent injury. Roosting bars should be made of wood not from plastic or metal because they can get too hot or cold and cause chicken to slip.
How to Build a Chicken Roosting Bar Plans
When you start building your chicken roosting bar you may adjust your length to accommodate your hen house. Measure your coop and doorways before you began gathering supplies and cutting.
Supplies
- (2) 2×2 pine boards (I got mine at Home Depot)
- Round Dowel Rods (again purchase at Home Depot)
- Fasten Brackets; I want my roosting bar to collapse so I can clean coop easier
- Box of 3 1/2-inch screws
- Box of 6-inch screws
- 100 grit Sandpaper
- Electric Drill
- Level
- Ruler
- Miter Saw
- Sponge or Old Rag
First create the frame of the roosting bar by making two triangles that match or create a ladder style like I am doing today. I cut the 2×2 base down to fit in my existing coop.
The roosting bar needed to be removed easily for cleaning and to place into another coop when the time is ready to grow. Fasten each 2xs to the dowel rods with screws. Try to keep everything straight by using your level and ruler, do this by marking with a pencil.
Second, now add roosting bars (Dowel Rods) and attach with screws keep them about twelve inches apart. The 2×2’s should have the narrow side facing up for the chickens to be able to roost. The Dowel Rods should be staggered and provide enough rooms for your flock.
Ideally you should have nine to twelve inches of space per bird.
Third, before screwing in your 2×2’s to the dowel rods you will want to pre-drill your holes. If you do not pre-drill your wood will split.
Fourth, attach 2×2’s to the rods to create roosting bars, I am creating four roosting bars based off of my measurements and calculation. Your roosting bar structure should be able to lean against a wall like a ladder.
Fourth, attach 2×2’s to the rods to create roosting bars, I am creating four roosting bars based off of my measurements and calculation. Your roosting bar structure should be able to lean against a wall like a ladder.
Fifth, sand everything with sandpaper to remove any rough spots or edge. Wipe with a damp cloth to remove debris.
Finally, place roosting bar in the chicken coop for the girls to enjoy. Keep away from entrance, exits and nesting boxes.
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