Roost Bar Spacing and Height: Inches Per Bird, Gaps and Lumber

Chickens sleep perched, side by side, and they all want to go up at the same time at dusk. The roost is where the flock spends most of the night, and where most of the droppings land. Get its length, height and spacing right and the coop stays cleaner and calmer. This guide collects the figures from six extension publications.

How much roost per bird

Roost length is measured in inches of bar per bird. The published figures:

So the full range is 5 to 10 inches. Virginia's wording, "always provide 8 to 10 inches," is the firmest. The University of Maine adds the rule that matters most in practice: provide enough space for all birds to roost at the same time.

CoopSizer sizes on 6 inches for bantams, 8 for standard hens and 10 for large or heavy breeds. Bigger birds need more shoulder room, so the larger the bird, the higher in the range we go.

How many bars

Bars usually run across the short side of the coop, wall to wall. Divide the total roost length by the usable bar length. In a 4 foot wide coop, framing and wall thickness leave about 3.5 feet of usable bar, which is the figure the calculator uses.

One bar of exactly the right length leaves no slack. Two bars give the flock room to sort out its pecking order without birds being pushed off.

Height off the floor

• Penn State: 18 to 24 inches above the floor.
• Oregon State: 2 feet off the floor. For Silkies, only 1 foot.
• University of Kentucky (ASC-241): at least 13 inches but no more than 18 inches.
• Utah State: not more than about 3 feet off the ground, with at least 12 inches of clearance under the perches.

The sources agree that roosts do not need to be high. Very high roosts mean a hard landing in the morning, which is harder on heavy birds. A height of 18 to 24 inches suits most standard hens. Go lower for heavy breeds, Silkies and any bird that struggles to fly up.

Spacing between bars

The floor plan in the calculator draws bars 12 inches apart. If you have the room, wider spacing helps. When bars are set at different heights, like a ladder, birds on the upper bar drop onto those below, so stagger them both up and out.

Kentucky also gives a wall clearance: keep perches at least 13 inches from the walls or other objects, so birds can sit without their tails against the wall.

What to make roosts from

• Oregon State: 1 to 2 inch square lumber with the top edges rounded off.
• Utah State: 2 by 2 inch material with rounded tops.

Rounded edges are easier on feet. Sand them smooth, and avoid anything slick. Many builders use a 2 by 4 laid flat, which gives a wider surface, but no extension source we read specifies that, so check that it is comfortable for your birds and easy to clean.

Make the bars removable if you can, by dropping them into brackets instead of screwing them in. They are much easier to scrape and to treat for mites.

Under the roost

Most droppings land under the roost overnight. Utah State's 12 inch clearance leaves room for a droppings board or a deeper strip of bedding that you can clean on its own. Kentucky's urban guide suggests cleaning roosts weekly.

Young birds and meat birds

University of Minnesota Extension says pullets over 6 weeks old can use roosts. Low practice perches in the brooder area help them learn. Virginia Cooperative Extension notes that meat-type birds may need low platforms instead of bars, and that low platforms about 3 inches off the ground are better than no perch at all.

Quick checklist

1. Total roost: hens x 8 in (standard), 6 in (bantam), 10 in (large).
2. Bars across the short side, usable length about 6 in shorter than the coop width.
3. 18 to 24 in off the floor for standard hens, lower for heavy breeds and Silkies.
4. Bars 10 to 18 in apart, staggered, at least 13 in from walls.
5. 1 to 2 in square lumber, rounded top edges, removable if you can.
6. Top roost higher than the nest boxes.

Try your own flock in the coop calculator. It gives total roost length and bar count and draws the bars on the plan. For the rest of the interior, see nest boxes and ventilation.