Arthritis is a bigger concern than bumblefoot according to some discussions on this site several years ago. It is one of advantages of deep bedding. Keeping the bedding deep and fluffy not only dries messes and mixes them down into it, it also lets the chickens bounce a little instead of thud when they land.
I don't think they feel safer if they are three feet up instead of two feet up. Or ten feet instead of six. Their instinct pushes them to get as high as they can. I think it pushes as hard when they are two feet, six feet, or twenty feet. How strong the instinct is probably varies from bird to bird.
If I had more space, I would have lower roosts. Mine are high so they will be higher than the nest boxes - that are high enough that I don't have to bend over to collect eggs and high enough that they can use the floor space under the nest boxes even with using deep bedding.
I don't think they feel safer if they are three feet up instead of two feet up. Or ten feet instead of six. Their instinct pushes them to get as high as they can. I think it pushes as hard when they are two feet, six feet, or twenty feet. How strong the instinct is probably varies from bird to bird.
If I had more space, I would have lower roosts. Mine are high so they will be higher than the nest boxes - that are high enough that I don't have to bend over to collect eggs and high enough that they can use the floor space under the nest boxes even with using deep bedding.
