Here’s everything you need to know about chicken roosting bars, including how many you need, how high they should be, and how wide they should be.
At the end of a long day, nothing feels better than crawling into bed, pulling the covers up, and getting a great nights sleep. Chickens love sleep too, they just do it a little differently.
Roosting not only helps them to relax, but it also keeps them safe from predators that may come out at night. In order to keep your chickens healthy and happy, you need to make sure they have a good roosting bar.
Chickens take their pecking order very seriously and those highest in the pecking order will grab the highest perch, leaving the lower (and more vulnerable) spots to those lower in the flock order.
Pathogens, bacteria, and external parasites like mites and lice are more likely to infect hens that sleep on the ground or the floor of the coop. That’s why you want them to sleep on chicken roosts at night. Dust baths for chickens are also a way that hens ward off chicken mites and other pests.
One of the most important parts of designing a chicken coop is making sure there is enough space for roosting. Animals that live in coops need a place to rest and perch at night. But because there are so many different opinions, it can be hard to figure out how much roosting space to give each chicken. This complete guide will tell you everything you need to know to make sure your flock has enough room to roost comfortably.
What is Chicken Roosting Space?
Roosting space refers to the linear footage of roosting bars and perches available for chickens to rest on. In the wild, chickens roost in trees and other elevated structures. Roosting bars replicate this experience and satisfy their natural instinct to perch.
Chickens use roosts for
- Sleeping at night – Roosting keeps them off the ground and safe from predators
- Establishing social order – Dominant chickens get the highest perches
- Comfort – Allows them to wrap their toes around a stable surface
- Temperature regulation – Elevation allows air circulation to cool birds
Providing enough space prevents crowding, injuries, and stress. For the health and happiness of the flock, it’s one of the most important parts of coop design.
How Much Roosting Space Per Chicken?
There is no consensus on the exact amount of roosting space needed per bird. Recommendations range from as little as 6 inches to as much as 2 feet per chicken. The ideal amount depends on several factors:
Chicken Breed and Size
- Small bantam breeds: 6-8 inches
- Average sized breeds: 8-10 inches
- Large breeds: 10-12 inches
- Extra large breeds: 12+ inches
Bigger chickens need more personal space. The general rule is the larger the breed, the more roosting space required.
Climate Conditions
Chickens huddle together in colder climates. You can allot less space per bird – 6 to 8 inches is sufficient.
In hot climates they need room to spread out. Aim for the higher end of the range – 10 to 12 inches per chicken.
Flock Size
In small flocks with less than 6 birds, you can provide more generous space per chicken – 10 to 12 inches.
For larger flocks, 8 to 10 inches is adequate as they will roost more tightly together.
Coop Size
The total amount of roosting space may also depend on the physical size limitations of your coop. It’s ideal to have multiple roosting bars at different heights to prevent crowding. But in a very small coop, you may have to limit it to 1 or 2 roosting bars.
Roosting Bar Length Calculator
Here is a simple calculator to determine how many linear feet of roosting space you need for your flock:
Number of Chickens x Inches Per Chicken = Total Inches Needed
Total Inches Needed / 12 inches = Total Feet of Roost Space
For example:
10 chickens times 10 inches per chicken equals 100 inches. Divide 100 inches by 12 to get about 8 feet of roosting space.
This will give you a good idea of how much space you need. If you can, give them an extra one to two feet to spread out.
Roosting Bar Design Tips
Once you know how much total roosting space you need, follow these tips for setting up your roosting bars:
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Roosts should be at least 12-24 inches off the ground and 12 inches from the wall. This prevents droppings from soiling the coop floor and walls.
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Large, flat perches are best so chickens can sit firmly – not wrap their toes. 2x4s work great. Round poles should be at least 1.5-2 inches diameter.
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Allow 6-12 inches of space between parallel roosting bars so chickens can jump between them.
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Stagger roost heights with the highest in the middle so chickens can easily access them.
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Place roosts above feeders and nesting boxes to keep them clean.
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Make sure roosting surfaces are not slippery, with a rough texture for grip.
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Install removable roosts for easy cleaning and parasite control.
Providing proper roosting space and setup is crucial for your chickens’ health and productivity. Aim for 8-12 inches per bird, depending on your specific flock and coop. And don’t forget to factor in extra space so your chickens can comfortably spread out! Happy roosting!
How Wide Do My Roosting Bars Need to Be?
Chicken roosting bars should be at least 2 inches wide and preferably 4 inches wide.
Chickens don’t wrap their feet around a perch like wild birds do. They actually prefer to sleep flat-footed. This has the added benefit of keeping their feet protected from frostbite in the winter from below using the roost as protection and using their body as protection from above.
This also keeps mice and rats from biting their feet while they sleep.
Location in the Coop
Chickens poop while they sleep so the location of the roosting bars is very important. When you put them somewhere, make sure the chicken poop falls in the poop tray or somewhere easy to clean.
Please make sure feeders, waterers, and nesting boxes are not below the roosting bars. Some places may have too much or too little airflow, which can be drafty and even make your flock stressed.
Place the roosting bar close enough to the walls that it blocks out most of the drafts but also make sure there is ample ventilation so your birds dont overheat during those summer months.
The perches should be slightly above head height to allow the chickens to feel secure from potential predators.
Make sure that none of them overlap when they are all sitting down and leave plenty of room between each one as well.
Lastly, make sure you place a few extra bars depending on how large your flock size is so everyone has their own roosting space on their own perch.
How Much Roost Bar Space Do Chickens Need?
FAQ
How much space do chickens need to roost?
So, it’s not as important to have the spacing correct. The topic of how much space chickens need to roost varies quite wildly with recommendations typically falling between 8 inches and 15 inches both horizontally and vertically. The specific spacing guides to follow are that you should make a roost 2 feet high from the ground.
How many chickens perch in a roost?
If you have a small number of chickens, just one roost is enough for them. Actually, each chicken requires between 8 to 10 inches of space when perching. Most of the time, you will find chickens perching together for warmth or protection especially in colder months.
How many chickens can fit under a chicken roost?
The general rule of thumb is 10 square feet per chicken, so if you have a 10ftx10ft space you can fit about 10 chickens. What should be under a chicken roost? A dropping board is what you should put under their roost because they poop at night. The dropping board collects- you guessed it- droppings to make the clean-up easier.
How big should a chicken roost be?
For big breeds, put the first roost 18 inches from the wall and parallel to it. This will help keep the wall clean. Consider having making the roosts easy to remove so you can more easily clean and disinfect the coop. Large, dual-purpose chickens will use up to about 12″ of space (width along the roost) per bird.
Do chickens need space between roost and ceiling?
Leave enough space between the roost and the ceiling. Chickens not only need space around themselves when roosting but also room between the perch and the ceiling to allow them to flap their wings when getting up and down or positioning themselves to sleep.
How much space does a chicken need?
While space between each chicken will vary, a minimum of 12 inches vertically and horizontally should be enough space for most breeds to feel comfortable and it will give them enough room to move around, allow airflow, and also allow some chickens to group together if they desire.
How many chickens can roost in a 4×8 coop?
This 4×8 chicken coop is perfect for a small flock of up to 8 chickens. It comes with a wire-mesh run that goes under the hutch and gives your chickens 32 square feet of room to run around and look for worms. Raising the hutch also helps keep your chickens dry and reduce instances of water or flood damage.
What is the 90/10 rule for chickens?
The “90/10 rule” for chickens refers to a feeding guideline that recommends 90% of a chicken’s daily diet should be a complete feed, while the remaining 10% can be treats.
Is a 4×4 coop big enough for 6 chickens?
It’s safe to assume that 6-8 chickens can comfortably fit in a 4×4 chicken coop.
How far apart should chicken roost be?
Bar length will vary by flock size, but plan for approximately ten inches of roosting space per chicken (although they are likely to perch close together for stability and warmth). Less space may be needed for bantam breeds, but allow enough to avoid competition for roosting room.