Mite Defense / Roosting Bars

[WildTurkeyDoctors]

I’m new to chickens and working on a coop and considering what I want to do for roosting bars. The lady who sold me the chicks said she doesn’t like wooden roosting bars because they can get infested with mites. Has anyone had this issue? She suggested a PVC roost. I’ve never considered that. Seems like it would be slippery. Thoughts?

 

[sloanbychoice]

We use 2x4s flat side up. I swear by it. It’s good for their feet structure, lets them keep their feet under their bodies to keep warm, and they prefer it.

If you get a mite infestation, they can easily be sprayed with permethrin during the flock treatment.

 

[Cluckarella]

I'm new here, but our extensive research tells us that PVC is not a good idea at all. As sloanbychoice said, 2x4s are commonly recommended for feet structure, chicken preference, warmth, and stability. We are currently building our coop, too, and we will be using 2x4s for the roosts.

 

[Folly's place]

There's a lot of information about roost choices, and it's true that PVC or metal are very poor choices, so don't use either!
When it comes to wood, it's interesting what's on these sites.
Remember that chickens were originally jungle animals who roosted in trees, not flat boards. They are designed to grasp tree limbs! If you don't have access to saplings or branches in the 2" to 4" diameter range, then substituting boards makes some sense, but is it the best? Not really, and the birds aren't warmer on that board in winter either.
I have saplings, a split rail from an old fence, and 4" fence posts as rafters in my old coop section, and the flock uses all of these choices, deciding based on each bird's social standing and flight abilities.
Also, set your roost bars so that they can be easily moved when you need to get under them!
When mites or lice arrive, spraying the coop and all roosts with permethrin is the answer! You may never see them, or fight every year, it just depends.
Mary

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I’m new to chickens and working on a coop and considering what I want to do for roosting bars. The lady who sold me the chicks said she doesn’t like wooden roosting bars because they can get infested with mites. Has anyone had this issue? She suggested a PVC roost. I’ve never considered that. Seems like it would be slippery. Thoughts?

My coop came with roosts that were 2x4s with the narrow side up. To help a hen with bumblefoot, the vet recommended covering them with pool noodles! I just cut the noodles in half lengthwise and zip tied them on. It's been great for the birds! It's insulating, squishy enough to grab, and makes the roost rounded rather than flat and narrow.

 

[Cluckarella]

There's a lot of information about roost choices, and it's true that PVC or metal are very poor choices, so don't use either!
When it comes to wood, it's interesting what's on these sites.
Remember that chickens were originally jungle animals who roosted in trees, not flat boards. They are designed to grasp tree limbs! If you don't have access to saplings or branches in the 2" to 4" diameter range, then substituting boards makes some sense, but is it the best? Not really, and the birds aren't warmer on that board in winter either.
I have saplings, a split rail from an old fence, and 4" fence posts as rafters in my old coop section, and the flock uses all of these choices, deciding based on each bird's social standing and flight abilities.
Also, set your roost bars so that they can be easily moved when you need to get under them!
When mites or lice arrive, spraying the coop and all roosts with permethrin is the answer! You may never see them, or fight every year, it just depends.
Mary

Hmmmmmm.... I guess I need to keep on researching. So when you say tree branches are preferable to 2x4s, what diameter should the tree branches be? Thank you!

 

[50-45-1]

I went with the natures design and use round limbs.
I chose cedar limbs from my river lot as cedar is its own pest and bug deterrent.
My husband built my roost ladder so i can easily remove the roosts for easy cleaning.

 

[Folly's place]

My roosts range from 2" to 4" diameter, bark on, and are different species, depending on what's available at the time. The fence post rafters are very old, so whatever was on them as preservative is long gone.
I also have a ladder roost, with branches from slightly under 2" diameter on the lowest level, to 2.5" higher, for chicks to start using roosts if they are brooder chicks.
Broody raised chicks follow mama up to the 3' tall roost by the time they are three weeks old!
Mary

 

[sloanbychoice]

I actually have round perches available in my coop in addition to the flat boards. My hens are rarely on the round perches. They prefer the flat.
Basically, you should do what you think is best for your chickens. Try one way, and then another. Nothing is permanent.

And as far as how chickens are naturally in the wild, I try to remember that they are actually not wild, and they were domesticated over 8,000 years ago.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If using branches, I'd say 2" in diameter or more. If bark is peeling off of it, go ahead and remove it (mites can shelter under bark) otherwise sand off any rough bits and you're good to go. I also designed my roosts to come off easily just in case of mites, and glad I did as I dealt with them a couple months ago.