Chicken roosts problem

[ChickenDude12345]

I'm not sure that is true about chicken

Yeah. Some of my chickens still prefer the dowel over the 2x4

 

[Cackel Shack]

I'm not sure that is true about chicken feet.

Yes....it is true for standard size chickens. Google it if you don't believe me.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes....it is true for standard size chickens. Google it if you don't believe me.

"Google it" is how people end up with poor advice on chicken raising, because if you're not careful you end getting information from someone regurgitating something they read from somewhere else, vs someone actually did research.

Here's a few results of someone experimenting with roosts on their own flock:
- https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-perch-experiment.74272/
- https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-size-roosts-and-chickens-preference.1479341/

Chickens can comfortably use flat or large rounded roosts.

 

[Cackel Shack]

"Google it" is how people end up with poor advice on chicken raising, because if you're not careful you end getting information from someone regurgitating something they read from somewhere else, vs someone actually did research.

Here's a few results of someone experimenting with roosts on their own flock:
- https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-perch-experiment.74272/
- https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-size-roosts-and-chickens-preference.1479341/

Chickens can comfortably use flat or large rounded roosts.

Rosemary….what I meant by googling roost
preference is RESEARCH it. Geeeeez!

 

[aart]

"Google it" is how people end up with poor advice on chicken raising, because if you're not careful you end getting information from someone regurgitating something they read from somewhere else, vs someone actually did research.

Googling chicken stuff often leads to BYC....
...where regurgitated inaccurate info is also quite common

 

[Chicalina]

chickens don’t wrap their feet around dowels or branches in the way wild birds do. Their feet are not designed for that

This is what I took issue with. If you post statements like this, then the onus is on you to prove its veracity. It is not for me to go and research to debunk a theory you propose as fact. I'd like to see peer reviewed academic articles on this. If you are correct and can back it up with evidence, then I'll accept your point.

All I know is that a) I have never heard this theory about chicken feet before, b) my chickens' feet automatically wrap around my finger to grasp it when said finger touches their feet pads (almost as if their feet were designed to grip a branch ), c) they roost very happily in both trees and on their coop perches of varying shapes and sizes, and d) (albeit anecdotal) I've read a lot of threads here with chickens having bare and sore keels from where they have roosted on the ground or on another flat surface.

I expect that is the same experience and knowledge most other chicken owners have.

 

[Solanacae]

That's why I moved to Florida. Just have to watch out for the snakes and alligators. HAHA

Hmm, I’ll take snow over those!