
The chicken coop is where your chickens will spend over half their time in so it is important to make it a safe, clean and happy environment for your flock. This is why it is important to have your chicken roosting bars set up properly. This article will show you:
- 1. What Material Should Chicken Roosting Bars Be?
- 2. Do Chickens Prefer Round or Square Roosting Bars?
- 3. Best Diameter for Chicken Roosting Bars
- 4. Best Chicken Roosting Bar Height
- 5. How Far Apart Should Chicken Roosting Bars Be?
- 6. How Many Chicken Roosting Bars Do I Need?
- 7. Cleaning Chicken Roosting Bars
- 8. Enhance Your Chickensā Sleep and Comfort with Nesting Box Herbs
- CONCLUSION: 8 Best Tips-How to Set Up Chicken Roosting Bars
- Nesting Box Herbs-Our #1 Best Seller!
Nesting Box Herbs-Our #1 Best Seller!
Roosting bars are necessary so your flock has a safe place to roost at night. If roosting bars are not provided, they will sleep either in their nesting boxes or on the floor, predisposing them to parasites and several different common chicken diseases.

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- Increases egg laying naturally.
- Improves chicken health.
- Deters parasites: mites, lice, fleas & flies as well as mice, rats, raccoons, coyotes, opossums and more!
- On SALE!
- SHOP Nesting Box Herbs
āSprinkling Nesting Box Herbs under the roosting bars not only keeps pests away but also creates a calming, stress-free environment that helps your chickens rest and recover overnight.ā
1. What Material Should Chicken Roosting Bars Be?

- The best chicken roosting bars are those made from wood. Years ago, when chickens lived out in the wild, chickens roosted high up in trees to protect themselves from predators. They sought out the best and highest branches to settle down for the night.
- Today, domesticated chickens instinctively will do the same thing.
- Wood is the most common type of roosting bar used in chicken coops and can be made from tree branches or from wood that you buy at your local hardware or lumbar store.
- If you are using scrap wood or wood purchased at your local hardware store, just make sure that it has not been treated with toxic chemicals such as pressure treated wood.
Sanding Rough Edges on Chicken Roosting Bars
- When using lumbar, make sure there arenāt any sharp edges, splintered wood or nails sticking out. You can do this by doing a quick sanding of the roosting bars before installing them in your coop.
- If you decide to use tree branches, inspect for sharp edges and remove them with a quick sanding.
Avoid Using Toxic Tree Branches for Chicken Roosting Bars
There are several types of trees that can be toxic to your flock if ingested. The following is a list of some common trees that are toxic to chickens and should not be used for roosting bars:

COMMON TREES TOXIC TO CHICKENS |
---|
AVOCADO TREE |
CHERRY TREE |
RED MAPLE |
WISTERIA |
Avoid Metal Roosting Bars
Some chicken owners use metal ladders or poles for roosting bars. Metal is easier to clean, but it can be very uncomfortable for your chickens to roost on.
- Metal roosting bars retain heat. During a hot day, metal bars can get hot enough to burn your chickensā feet.
- Metal roosting bars will extract more heat from a chickensā feet than wood. This is especially bad in the winter time when they are trying to keep warm.
2. Do Chickens Prefer Round or Square Roosting Bars?

Chickens prefer rounded roosting bars. This can be either a round tree branch or a piece of wood (such as a 2ā³ x 4ā³) that is rounded (sanded) at the edges.
š” Roosting Tip: Use Herbs!
Want to create a calm, pest-free area for your hens to rest? Sprinkle Nesting Box Herbs under and around the roosting area. The calming scent of lavender and chamomile helps your flock relax while natural pest-repelling herbs like rosemary and peppermint keep bugs away.
3. Best Diameter for Chicken Roosting Bars
Adult chickens prefer roosting bars that are 2ā³-4ā³ in diameter and rounded at the edges. Younger chicks require a smaller diameter roosting bars, 1ā³-2ā³.
- For smaller chickens, place the 2ā³x4ā³ or 1ā³ x 2ā³ with the 2ā³ facing upright
- For larger chickens, place the 2ā³ x 4ā³ with the 4ā³ facing upright.
What Happens if the Chicken Roosting Bars are Too Narrow?

- Chickens prefer to be able to ārestā on a roosting bar instead of wrapping their toes around it. If the roosting bar is too narrow for their size, they will need to wrap their toes around the roost and balance on the roost throughout the night. This doesnāt allow them to get a good nights sleep.
- Also, if the roost is too small, it can cause chickens toe nails to curl under and cut into its feet while grasping the perch throughout the night.
- They are also more likely to lose balance and fall the perch at night.
What Happens if the Chicken Roosting Bars are Too Wide?
- Chickens do most of their pooping at night, so you want to make sure that the roosting bars are not too wide and allow their backend to hang out far enough so the poop hits the floor and not the bars. This is why using flat boards is not recommended.
4. Best Chicken Roosting Bar Height

Roosting bars that are placed properly will provide:
- a safe place for your chickens to roost on at night.
- Discourage them from sleeping on the floor.
- Chickens that sleep on the coop floor are predisposed to getting parasites and several different common chicken diseases.
- Discourages chickens from roosting in their nesting boxes.


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- Increases egg laying naturally.
- Improves chicken health.
- Deters parasites: mites, lice, fleas & flies as well as mice, rats, raccoons, coyotes, opossums and more!
- On SALE!
- SHOP Nesting Box Herbs
Silkie Roosting Bars
Silkie chickens cannot fly and cannot see as well due to their āfluffā that covers their eyes. Because of this, many Silkies can be seen nesting on the coop floor for the night.
To help prevent your Slikies from doing sleeping on a dirty coop floor, provide a roosting bar at around 12ā³ off the coop floor. Sometimes this is all that is needed and they may even hop to the highest roost.
How Low Should the Lowest Chicken Roosting Bar Be?
If you have Silkies, provide a roosting bar that is 12ā³ off the ground. If not, the lowest roost should be around 18ā³ off the coop floor.
The lowest roosting bar should also be higher than the chicken nesting boxes and located on the opposite side of the coop.
How High Should the Highest Chicken Roosting Bar Be?
The highest chicken roosting bar shouldnāt be any higher than 4ā² off the ground. Any higher than this can cause injury to a chicken if it happens to fall or jump off of the roost. The highest roosting bar should be away from any windows or vents that can cause your chicken to chill or predispose them to predator attacks.
ROOSTING BAR HEIGHT |
---|
LOWEST ROOSTING BAR (WITH SILKIES) SHOULD BE 12ā³ |
LOWEST ROOSTING BAR SHOULD BE 18ā³ |
SHOULD BE HIGHER THAN NESTING BOXES |
LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF COOP |
HIGHEST ROOSTING BAR 4ā² |
PLACE AWAY FROM ANY DRAFTS |
DO NOT PLACE ROOSTING BARS ABOVE NESTING BOXES |
5. How Far Apart Should Chicken Roosting Bars Be?
Roosting bars should be spaced 12ā³ apart both horizontally and vertically. This is important so your chickens wonāt poop on each other or on the roost below it. 12ā³ is the perfect distance that your chickens can hop both up and hop down from.
So, if you are planning on putting 4 roosting bars up, you will need to place the first roosting bar 4ā² from the wall.
IF YOU WANT THIS MANY ROOSTING BARS | INSTALL LOWEST ROOSTING BAR THIS MANY FEET FROM WALL |
---|---|
4 | 4ā² |
3 | 3ā² |
2 | 2ā² |
1 | 1ā² |
I like to place my first roosting bar 12ā³ off the ground because my Silkies like to roost on the lower bars. Because I have 4 roosting bars, the lowest bar needs to be 4ā² from the wall. Then I place the second roosting bar 12ā³ closer to the wall at 24ā³. Then my 3rd bar is at 36ā³ and the top roosting bar is at 48ā³ and is 12ā³ from the wall.
6. How Many Chicken Roosting Bars Do I Need?

It is important to provide enough roosting space for your chickens. If you donāt, they are likely to fight, bully and those lowest in the pecking order will end up sleeping on the coop floor. You are better to error on too much roosting space than not enough.
- Adult chickens need at least 12ā³ of roosting space.
- Larger breed chickens need up to 14ā³ of roosting space.
- Bantam breeds need around 10ā³ of roosting space.
# ADULT CHICKENS | REQUIRED ROOSTING BAR SPACE |
---|---|
6 | 6 FEET (1) 6 FOOT ROOST (2) 3 FOOT ROOSTS |
8 | 8 FEET (1) 8 FOOT ROOST (2) 4 FOOT ROOSTS |
10 | 10 FEET (2) 5 FOOT ROOSTS |
12 | 12 FEET (2) 6 FOOT ROOSTS (3) 4 FOOT ROOSTS (4) 3 FOOT ROOSTS |
24 | 24 FEET (2) 12 FOOT ROOSTS (3) 8 FOOT ROOSTS (4) 6 FOOT ROOSTS (6) 4 FOOT ROOSTS |
7. Cleaning Chicken Roosting Bars
Make Chicken Roosting Bars Easy to Remove
One good tip that I highly recommend is to make your roosting bars removable. This makes cleaning both the roosting bars and the chicken coop a lot easier!

How to Clean Roosting Bars
- Remove the chicken roosting bars and give it a good spray with a high power hose.
- Spray it with an apple cider vinegar/water solution, 1:1.
- Let it set for 5-10 minutes.
- Take a high powered hose or pressure washer and wash all the softened poop off.
- Set it out in the sun to air dry before returning it to the coop.
Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial properties. It not only will help to kill bacteria, but it will also kill any mites, lice and other parasites that may be attached to the roosting bar.
š§¼ Coop Cleaning Tip: Herbs Under the Roost
When cleaning your coop and refreshing bedding under the roosting bars, consider adding herbs like mint, rosemary, and marjoram into the mix. These herbs are naturally antimicrobial and help:
- Control moisture and odor
- Deter flies and pests
- Make your coop smell fresh and clean
My Nesting Box Herbs are designed specifically to support a cleaner, healthier coop naturally. Just toss a handful in with your bedding each time you clean, and your flock will love it!
For some really good ideas on building chicken roosting bars, read 11 DIY Chicken Roosting Bar Plans You Can Make Today.
8. Enhance Your Chickensā Sleep and Comfort with Nesting Box Herbs
Just like sturdy, well-placed roosting bars help your chickens sleep soundly, adding calming, aromatic herbs to their nesting areas creates an even more restful and healthy coop environment.
Our Nesting Box Herbs mix is packed with natural ingredients like lavender, chamomile, marjoram, and peppermint ā all known for promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and keeping the coop fresh and pest-free.
Happy, stress-free chickens not only sleep better, but also stay healthier and lay more consistently.
Benefits of using Nesting Box Herbs alongside proper roosting bars:
- Encourages restful sleep and reduces overnight stress.
- Helps repel pests naturally without chemicals.
- Keeps the coop smelling fresh and clean.
- Boosts overall flock health and egg production.

Nesting Box Herbs
- Increases egg laying naturally.
- Improves chicken health.
- Deters parasites: mites, lice, fleas & flies as well as mice, rats, raccoons, coyotes, opossums and more!
- On SALE!
- SHOP Nesting Box Herbs
š Shop Nesting Box Herbs Here and give your chickens the coziest, healthiest home possible!
āļø Cooling Herbs for Summer Roosting Comfort
Summer heat can cause hens to become restless and overheatedāeven at night on the roost. To help keep your flock cool, try sprinkling cooling herbs like peppermint, chamomile, hibiscus, lemon balm, and rose petals around the base of the coop or in the bedding under the roost.
These herbs support:
- Natural body temperature regulation
- Reduced heat stress
- A calmer sleep environment
Try my Cooling Herbs for Chickens blendāitās perfect for summer roosting areas and a great addition to your flockās hot-weather routine.
CONCLUSION: 8 Best Tips-How to Set Up Chicken Roosting Bars
- Wood is the best material to use for chicken roosting bars. Make sure that it doesnāt contain any chemicals.
- Chickens prefer roosting bars that are rounded. So if you are using 2ā³x4ā³ās, sand the corners and any rough edges.
- The best diameter roosting bars for adult chickens are between 2ā³-4ā³ and 1ā³-2ā³ for a young chick.
- Chicken roosting bars should be at least 12ā³ off the ground and no higher than 4 feet.
- Roosting bars should be 12ā³ away from each other both horizontally and vertically.
- Each adult chicken needs a minimum of 12ā³ of roosting space, slightly less for bantam breeds and slightly more for large breed chickens.
- Make your roosting bars removable. This makes cleaning both them and the coop much easier!
- Sprinkle Nesting Box herbs beneath the roosting bars to enhance your chickensā sleep and comfort.
Creating the perfect roosting setup is just part of building a cozy, healthy home for your flock. Take it even further with my Nesting Box Herbs:
- šæ Calms and reduces stress for more restful sleep
- šŖ° Naturally repels pests like mites and lice
- š Supports overall health with powerful herbal properties
Give your chickens a roost ā and a coop ā theyāll truly love!
š Shop Nesting Box Herbs Here

Nesting Box Herbs
- Increases egg laying naturally.
- Improves chicken health.
- Deters parasites: mites, lice, fleas & flies as well as mice, rats, raccoons, coyotes, opossums and more!
- On SALE!
- SHOP Nesting Box Herbs