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I hope those antibiotics work soon, LG!

How high do you all keep your roosts and what are they made of? I have two ladders, which thankfully none of the girls use anymore and a long dowel about 3 1/2 - 4 ft high. I'm thinking of lowering the roost height and changing the pole to a 2x4 to help prevent another case of bumblefoot.... but would love to know what others have/like. Thanks.
 
IZZYBELLA said:
I hope those antibiotics work soon, LG!

How high do you all keep your roosts and what are they made of? I have two ladders, which thankfully none of the girls use anymore and a long dowel about 3 1/2 - 4 ft high. I'm thinking of lowering the roost height and changing the pole to a 2x4 to help prevent another case of bumblefoot.... but would love to know what others have/like. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I use a 2x4, wide side up, so they have plenty of room to stand and then cover their feet with feathers in the winter. It's worked great for me. The roost is about 4.5 feet off the ground & I have logs standing on end and another roost (2x3, wide side up) they can use to climb up and get down. They usually fly both ways but sometimes one or two of them will "take the stairs."

 
My girls are not gonna be happy with me at all this weekend. When I built my coop I have open eves and securely hardware clothed the outside and left the inside open. Well for awhile now 8 of my isa browns have decided that that will be their roosting spot (which I cannot reach to clean good). And plus when they are roosting their poop goes between the hardware cloth and outside wall which I'm gonna have to dig out with something. So this weekend I am going to put chicken wire on the inside to keep them out of the eves and so those 8 will join the other 4 on their 2x4 roost that they have. Also, the girls are 14 weeks tomorrow. They are turning red and actively wanting to check out the nesting boxes which I have blocked off. What does everyone use for nesting material? Pine shavings with hay?
 
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[quote name="diana507" url="/t/1370/maine/16010#post_15470684"What does everyone use for nesting material? Pine shavings with hay?[/quote]w

I use some shavings but mostly collect the grass clippings when I mow, dry them (make hay) and use that for nesting. I put citrus peels in, too, to discourage bugs. I have half a 30 gallon barrel from last year left and have started another barrel of "hay" this summer.
 
Thanks, mlowen.

I use shavings in the nest boxes, Diana. I used to use straw and the girls definitely prefer it, but I got worried about mites. (They have recently been trying to lay in the goat shed where there are piles of hay!)
 
I use 2 x 4's on the flat for perches, they are 2.5 and 3.5' high with a hay bale in front for the ones who are too heavy to make a graceful landing.

In the nest boxes, I'm using mostly hay. I get one bale of good hay, and break it up, store it in wood pellet bags, and a bale will last a year! I have dried citronella (and some dried orange peel graciously given to me by MLowen) but have yet to use any in the nest boxes.

Looking forward to seeing updated pics of your girls! My older gals have been doing their clown car horn impression for a few weeks now, and the babies are just getting into that. They all got out to free range for a bit tonight. (I finally got the garden fenced in.)
 

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