Does anyone use 1x3 or 1x4?

[heiditam]

I see alot of 2x4, and wondering if the 2 inches is important. What about a 1x3 or 1x4? laid with wide side...is the extra inch important for feet wrap? Thoughts?

 

[Wisher1000]

It depends a lot on your length of roost, number of birds, weight, and weather. If you only have short runs of roost, you can get away with the one inch size, but if it is over say three or four feet, you will need the 2x for strength. That is also dependent on how many birds will roost there and how much they weigh. Weather is a factor if your winters are cold enough that the toes need to be covered by feathers when the birds roost. The wider (x4) flat part helps with that alot. I have used 2x3 wood for roosts, but we don't have much really cold weather.

I hope this helped, good luck!

 

[tcstoehr]

Keep in mind that 1-by material will often have a sharp edge at each corner whereas larger lumber has finished/rounded edges.

 

[thomasboyle]

Another factor is cost. 1x4's cost $7-$8 for an 8' length, and 2x4's are $3. I would think a 1x4 would bend more, especially in length over 4 feet. If you have free 1x4's available, you can screw in a second 1x4 to support the roost, so from the end it looks like a T.

 

[David1998]

Why would you want to use a 1x4 or 1x3? The cheap 1x4 or 1x3 furring strips are already bent or will warp pretty badly if not nailed down every foot or two. The good 1x4 are often as much as 2x4s.

Like what was said, the 1x? material won't support roost spans over 1 or 2 feet maybe.

 

[heiditam]

Thank you all.

I ended up putting in two 8 foot 2x4's. I have a space for a 4 foot roost, and I may use the 1x3 for the younger birds now and then switch it out to the 2x4--will sand edges though!