Is this perch too high?

[JerseyJourney]

We have a similar set up and are just now installing the poop board and roost. It is about waist height and with Jersey Giants they definitely can't be allowed to jump down from that height, so we are going to try to put up soft wire or chicken wire like a wall in front of the poop board so they cannot jump down. It will force them to have to use the ramp. I don't know how that's going to work out, but we really don't have another option. I am hoping they prefer the 'extra safety' feeling being behind a barrier!!

We'll be using a thick dowel (2"+), but we are currently using a thick tree limb and they love it.

 

[Kelster65]

We have a similar set up and are just now installing the poop board and roost. It is about waist height and with Jersey Giants they definitely can't be allowed to jump down from that height, so we are going to try to put up soft wire or chicken wire like a wall in front of the poop board so they cannot jump down. It will force them to have to use the ramp. I don't know how that's going to work out, but we really don't have another option. I am hoping they prefer the 'extra safety' feeling being behind a barrier!!

We'll be using a thick dowel (2"+), but we are currently using a thick tree limb and they love it.

Will chickens climb down a branch vs. A ladder? Mine (rhode island reds) currently "fly" up to and down from the poop table roosts (table is 40" high) but I don't currently have a ladder. I'm wondering if it's really necessary or if I can give them a secure branch to use or do I need to build a ladder....

 

[rosemarythyme]

Will chickens climb down a branch vs. A ladder? Mine (rhode island reds) currently "fly" up to and down from the poop table roosts (table is 40" high) but I don't currently have a ladder. I'm wondering if it's really necessary or if I can give them a secure branch to use or do I need to build a ladder....

They can, as long as the angle isn't steep, but not sure how inclined they are to actually do so (yes I used a branch as a "ramp" before - they used it to go up, but mostly leapt off to get down).