Any ideas for non wood perches?

[gabbyscritters]

We are battling scale leg mites and would love to get rid of wood perches. Wooden perched make such good hiding spots for leg mites and they do gather poop.
Hubby thought of pvc pipe but We decided too slippery and round shape is not the best for perching.
It is however cheap.
Wondering about pvc deck rails, looked expensive when I checked online.
Does anyone use pvc or any other non wood material for posts.
We have little bantams, they have mainly 2x4's right now.

 

[RollinWithTheStones]

I have three types of perches in my run and coop. Wood (made from tree branches), pvc (in the run they have used it but not often), and dried sunflower stalks (for the chicks).

What about a plastic coated pipe or covering a piece of pvc with hardwire mesh for some extra grip.

 

[SC-ChickMom]

metal studs?

 

[KrisH]

Have you tried DE "food grade diatomaceous earth" on the pearches?

 

[KrisH]

Quote:
I would suggest that metal transmits heat and cold too well, I can picture a chicken stuck to a pearch in the winter

 

[Czech's_chicks]

I've used old fence poles, shower rods, and anything else that is straight and can absorb the weight. Good lucks. I know those little buggars can be hard to get rid of.

 

[jrosto]

Have you thought about Mesquite wood branches? Easy to clean, not much place for mites to hide, way superior to metal or PVC in the winter, and natural.

 

[PGH]

How about composite decking boards?

 

[gabbyscritters]

Yes, the new types of deck material We are going to look into. Will let everyone know what We end up with.

 

[BoltonChicken]

Have you tried DE "food grade diatomaceous earth" on the pearches?

That would be my recommendation. Stick with the wood, which after all is not what is causing the mites. I would sprinkle DE all over the coop and run to kill the mites/fleas/parasites and be done with it.
Wood is what would be natural to them.​