California - Northern

[TheKeeper]

What is the best roosting material for the internal coop roosts. Ive been seeing lots of different roost designs. One guy had advice that large branches made the best roosts. Im thinking that whatever it is a rather significant diameter (or block surface) is preferable to some thing rather narrow.

I also use 2'x4' with the large side horizontal, set in ladder fashion which leans at a 45 degree angle (no pooping on each other). Not that it's applicable much in our area but its better for their feet to be flat on their perch so they can cover them with their feathers in cold weather to prevent losing toes. At the least, it's more comfortable for them & I've always thought happy birds stay healthier & lay more. I've used big branches too (manzanita or oak, 2"-3" diam) because they look nicer but they take more finagling to get them cut so their mostly level & secured properly. Manzanita is a real pain because it's so hard - good for hookbills but not necessary for chickens.

I also painted my perches & coop floor with an epoxy paint. Super durable, won't flake, and I can easily scrape things clean.

 

[PetRock]

I also use 2'x4' with the large side horizontal, set in ladder fashion which leans at a 45 degree angle (no pooping on each other). Not that it's applicable much in our area but its better for their feet to be flat on their perch so they can cover them with their feathers in cold weather to prevent losing toes. At the least, it's more comfortable for them & I've always thought happy birds stay healthier & lay more. I've used big branches too (manzanita or oak, 2"-3" diam) because they look nicer but they take more finagling to get them cut so their mostly level & secured properly. Manzanita is a real pain because it's so hard - good for hookbills but not necessary for chickens.

I also painted my perches & coop floor with an epoxy paint. Super durable, won't flake, and I can easily scrape things clean.

We have linoleum on the floor of our coops and painted the walls. Last fall, DH and Monet white washed the interior of our big coop including roosts with a lime mixture. We plan on doing that again this spring with our big spring cleaning.

 

[Audio51]

Quote:
I'm just thinking that in the wild or with 100% free rangers, they would roost in trees and bushes. With finches, a variety of perch sizes are recommended because it allows the foot to excercise.

 

[ronott1]

I'm just thinking that in the wild or with 100% free rangers, they would roost in trees and bushes. With finches, a variety of perch sizes are recommended because it allows the foot to excercise.

Chickens are different--They have been domesticated fro thousands of years and are not like the wild ones.

Too small or rounded roosts are bad for big Large Fowl since their weight will press on the keel bone. Bantams and small large fowl can use smaller roosts.

 

[TheKeeper]

I saw these on the Signals catalog website - Cute!

 

[casportpony]

Quote: I'm no expert, but I read something similar and it also mentioned that round roosts could contribute to bumble foot. I have used round, 2X2's and 2x4's and have not had any foot issues with any of them.

-Kathy

 

[Hangtown Farms]

I use 2 by. 4s for my roosts non pressure treated . Sand it to get the splintrrs

 

[Audio51]

I need to rebuild my entire coop to accomodate my chickens more comfortably so I will review the roosts at that time. I also need to include poop boards in the design to make cleaning easier. There just isn't the space for either right now. Mine are on the rounded poles with now and I haven't had any foot problems show up....but that could change....

 

[BCollie]

I put a single roost in my coop, however some of my hens choose to roost on the side of the pallets that the coop are made from. VERY thin board so it can't be good for their feet, however there's really no way of stopping them from roosting where they want to.

 

[Chooklet]

How deep should a brooder box be?

My four brooders are small. They have a 2' by 4' footprint but are only 1' tall. They are wood on 5 sides with wood & hardware cloth (wire) doors on the front. Each has a 20 chick eco glow in them. The chicks go in there from the incubator & rotate out at 3 weeks to a grow out pen which is a fruit bin with a hinged in the middle top of wood & wire. The first grow out pen is in a covered outdoor area & there is a place to put a drop light in there if needed.

I love your peach bin brooders Karen. I plan to take a bunch of pictures of them in May so that I can make them (or rather ask my handyman to make them) for me. What are those strange looking chickens in the lower corner of the picture?