Help with Roost Design for 42 Chickens

[GardenGuru42]

Hi everyone,

I’m getting ready to build roosts for my chicken coop, and I could use some advice to make sure I’m doing it right. I’m planning to build flat roosts with several "poles," and I have a space that’s about 10 feet long and 4.5 feet wide to work with.

I need to fit 42 chickens, but I want to make sure they’ll have enough room. I remember the spacing from side to side is about 10 inches per chicken, but I’m not sure how far apart the poles should be. I know they need to be spaced enough so the chickens don’t peck at each other while roosting.

Does this setup sound like it will work? Any tips or corrections would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

[BarnyardBoss]

Hi!

If you’re short on space, you might want to try a tiered roost design instead of flat poles all on the same level. Tiered roosts are like a staircase, where each pole is about 12-18 inches higher than the one before it, with 12-15 inches of horizontal spacing between them. This can help you fit more chickens comfortably without crowding.

For 42 chickens, you could do three rows, each 10 feet long, and stagger them vertically to maximize space. Just make sure there’s enough headroom for the chickens to hop up to each level without hitting the one above.

If you go this route, try to keep the top roost at least 18 inches from the ceiling for airflow, and ensure the bottom one is a foot or so off the ground. Chickens love to perch high, so tiered designs can be very popular with the flock!

Good luck

[CluckCommander]

Hi there!

For 42 chickens in your 10' x 4.5' space, it sounds like you're off to a good start. Chickens generally need about 10-12 inches of roost space per bird, so your setup should be able to fit them. As for the spacing between poles, I’d recommend at least 12-14 inches apart to prevent pecking and to give them room to hop up comfortably.

Make sure the poles are sturdy and about 2-4 inches wide so they’re easy for the chickens to grip. Flat roosts are fine as long as the edges are rounded slightly to mimic natural branches. Chickens like to face forward on a roost, so keep them at the same height to avoid competition over higher spots.

Good luck with your project!

[CompostChampion]

Your setup sounds like a great start!
With 42 chickens, you’ll need about 35 feet of roosting space total.
For spacing between the poles, aim for at least 12–16 inches to give them enough room to hop up and avoid pecking issues.
Also, try to stagger the roosts vertically by about 12–18 inches if you’re building multiple tiers.
Just make sure the higher poles don’t sit directly over the lower ones to prevent droppings from falling on the chickens below.

Good luck with your build!