Roosting ?

I am building a chicken coop that is about 4 feet X 4 feet and about 6 ft tall inside. Do I need to install a roost? What size lumber should I use, and how high off the floor should it be?

Thanks

Gary

Yes, chickens do need to roost and they like big pieces of wood--like a two by four laid flat...so the are standing on the "by four" part.

I would say at least a 3 feet off the ground or even higher if you can go that way.
Chickens love to fly up on a roost and the higher it is the more they like it.

You can use a 2 x4 turned side ways so they can grip the board or even a 2x2 i have used those.
They need to be able to grip the board so they won't easily fall where as if they are sitting flat on a board they could poop and sit in it or fall not being able to hold on.

Even tree branches are good,not so big that they can`t get a good grip or so small that they can`t hang on.My first coop was 5x5 only 5 ft hight and we had a roosting pole(tree branch) for 10 birsds.So glad I can stand up now in the new coop!!