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roost

post #1 of 11
3/31/12 at 4:59am
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2x4 for a wide surface or a dowel rod for a rounded surface the can wrap their feet around?

Thanks!

Follow my new hobby of chicken keeping at http://stuffmedo.blogspot.com/

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Follow my new hobby of chicken keeping at http://stuffmedo.blogspot.com/

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post #2 of 11
3/31/12 at 5:04am

I prefer Tree branches.. Its more natural... I have never used anything else....

-Caleb

 

Highpointfarm46.blogspot.com

 

EAT FRESH, LOCAL FOOD...

 

"Real heroes wear dog tags"

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-Caleb

 

Highpointfarm46.blogspot.com

 

EAT FRESH, LOCAL FOOD...

 

"Real heroes wear dog tags"

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post #3 of 11
3/31/12 at 9:27am

IMO.....You can use what ever you have. Tree branches w/bark.....2x4's.....The only thing it needs to do......besides long enough for the # of chickens you have....is to be wide enough for them to get their breast feathers over their toes in winter to keep them warm.

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post #4 of 11
3/31/12 at 12:48pm

We put our roosts in this morning and we just used tree branches.  They love them!!

Not-so-new to chickens with my first free-ranging flock of 12 started on 3/4/2012 - 2 White Leghorn, 2 Tetra Tint, 2 Buff Orpington, 2 bantam Buff Cochin, 4 bantam OEGB/Silkie mixes.  Hatched 8 bitties on 9/9/12 with 2 broody OEG hens.

 

Learning the hard way with a current flock of 6 - Lost 7 to predators and 1 bitty to an accident, gave away 6 chicks.

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Not-so-new to chickens with my first free-ranging flock of 12 started on 3/4/2012 - 2 White Leghorn, 2 Tetra Tint, 2 Buff Orpington, 2 bantam Buff Cochin, 4 bantam OEGB/Silkie mixes.  Hatched 8 bitties on 9/9/12 with 2 broody OEG hens.

 

Learning the hard way with a current flock of 6 - Lost 7 to predators and 1 bitty to an accident, gave away 6 chicks.

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post #5 of 11
3/31/12 at 12:52pm

We used handrails left over from fixing up our house. They work great!

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post #6 of 11
4/1/12 at 10:30am

The gentleman who built our coop used apple tree branches and they look woot.gif!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

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post #7 of 11
5/6/12 at 7:11pm

We're just finishing up our coop for our 18 "babies", and we are wanting to use natural roosts too - we have a few 3-4 inch diameter trees that we've recently cut down...  Do any of you know whether pine and/or cedar trees are ok to use?  Particularly I'm worried if the sap will bother their feet?  (The logs are sticky right now, may dry out a little over time, I don't know)   Any advice or experience with these? Thanks!!  

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post #8 of 11
5/6/12 at 7:17pm

I've heard that cedar can be toxic to chickens, so I wouldn't use it for your roosts. I think pine would be ok.

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post #9 of 11
5/6/12 at 7:37pm

Oh wow, I didn't know that about cedar - Thanks so much for the advice!!! 
 

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post #10 of 11
5/6/12 at 9:49pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rhEDdBW9Xs&list=UUCMCG_m5tkBSyXMeGoGLSBw&index=5&feature=plcp

 

Here's my coop at night. You can see that most of my birds prefer the natural branches to cut lumber.

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