natural branches for roosts?

[Ridgerunner]

I used tree branches for mine. They seem quite happy with them. The one thing to watch for is that roost mites live in the cracks in the wood. Bark is a perfect habitat for them. The usual recommendation is to remove the bark and oil the underside of the branch with used motor oil. I have not removed the bark or oiled them yet. I check for roost mites and don't have them yet. I know, my time is coming.

I don't think I will do either of those though. I have to rearrange my coop soon to put a brooder in there. I think I will just turn my tree branches over. They have pooped on the branch while roosting and the poop has polished it. It is so slick and smooth from the poop that there is no way any mite could find a crack in the top half of the roost. When I put the brooder in, I'll just turn the roost over and let them polish the other side.

I made mine removable too. I drilled a hole in the end of the branch and another hole in the support. I dropped a 5" nail in there as a pin to hold the roost in place. I don'tknow if you can follow what I did from this photo or not.

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Eucalyptus! I'm so jealous. I wish I had some eucalyptus trees. Eucalyptus is supposed to naturally deter mites, fleas, etc.

I use the branches from the trees that we do have growing around our property. If there are any sharp edges, I sand them down because I don't want foot injuries leading to bumblefoot.

 

[woodenart]

I like the rustic look to branches, we like to use 2 inch diameter

Mark

 

[ChookHappy]

Quote:
Eucalyptus! I'm so jealous. I wish I had some eucalyptus trees. Eucalyptus is supposed to naturally deter mites, fleas, etc.

I use the branches from the trees that we do have growing around our property. If there are any sharp edges, I sand them down because I don't want foot injuries leading to bumblefoot.

Yea no kidding! I am in love with the farm we live on. We have been blessed with tons of gigantic 200' tall eucalyptus trees that unfortunatly are homes to a few owls and the hawks like it too. So far they have not taken from our flock but we are over protective of them.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

I use 3" branches in the run and 2x4's laid(4"side up) flat in the coop. On cool nights they can sleep on their feet and keep them warm.

 

[lavacaw]

We cleared a huge amount of native youpon when we cleared for the chicken house. I cut 8 foot poles and trimmed off all the side branches. I put nails in the 2x4 ladder posts to hold them in place which allows me to move them all to the top when I rake out the bedding. I use sevin or DE with gloves on a couple of times a year to thoroughly powder the roosts and rub it in. No mites!

 

[happyhensny]

branches without bark are better - mites and other little buggers can live between the bark and wood.

We have branches too, no bark though.

 

[2txmedics]

Thats what I did, I went and grab branches out of the yard and put in the coop over head....and boy did they love them!!!!! where the branches are, are right even with the ventilation that goes across the front of the coop so they can get night time air or move deep into the back of the coop away from it, but at the same time they can see all across the yard.

you can see a ladder roost to the far right in back of the coop if they want to get away from the open air.

Front of the coop, behind this are the branches

 

[mustangruss]

My chickens have loved them with no ill effects for two years now.

 

[dntd]

Can I use drift wood? last spring the local beach had tons of sun bleached large branches, I think I might go there to get the chicken's out side roost/play structure.