Outdoor perches

[jools2014]

Hi all,

I've always had chairs and straw bales for my chickens to sit on-which they love, but I recently got rid of them (straw bales going mouldy, chairs falling apart etc.) and put up 2 tree branches for them to perch on when outside in their run (they have wooden perches to roost on inside which they like at night but not branches). They have not been on them once! I thought they'd love them, but the only chicken I have seen who was not on the ground decided to sit on top of an old tree stump instead of one of the branches! Do chickens not like to sit on perches during the day? I'm sure I've seen pics of others chickens sitting on wooden perches having a rest. I don't like to think of them having to sit on the ground, I'm sure they would like to sit somewhere high to feel safer-what does everyone else do? I don't have any old chairs left and the straw bales are a pain since they get the car so messed up and get damp and mouldy quickly-I think they miss the chairs and straw bales but I'm puzzled why they don't like the branches?

 

[Better Than Rubies]

Hmm, I don't know why your chickens won't perch on the branches, but maybe they just need to get used to them first. So why not try picking them up and placing them on the perches to accustom them to it?
And, yes, chickens sit on perches any time of day, as far as I know. =)

 

[SueT]

What is the diameter of the branches? Maybe too skinny? Mine will use branches in their run. I have some about 2" wide....

 

[jreardon1918]

Mine use the outdoor roosts every day. They are on them in my avatar. They are 2-3" oak limbs.

 

[GC-Raptor]

My girls roost in their pen and preen their feathers, .but most of the time their scratching and pecking or dust bathe. . GC

 

[rosemarythyme]

Mine enjoy their perches and use them daily. I just use tree branches that are fairly straight and sturdy. Do make sure they're well secured, a wobbly perch can make them nervous.

And of course chickens are afraid of anything new so they might be afraid of the additions and need some time to acclimate to them.

 

[jthornton]

Any time I put something new in the chicken yard you would think I tossed in a mongoose in lol. I put some lettuce in and they all ran... a while later there was not a trace of lettuce. Give them time to investigate and figure it out.

JT

 

[jools2014]

Hmm, I don't know why your chickens won't perch on the branches, but maybe they just need to get used to them first. So why not try picking them up and placing them on the perches to accustom them to it?
And, yes, chickens sit on perches any time of day, as far as I know. =)

Yeh maybe they just need to get used to them although they've been there a couple of weeks now-I did put one on the perch but she soon came off, although it was getting late at that point so she wanted to go roost in the house. I don't tend to pick them up much as they don't like it but I'll try-or I could hold the treats up there-I think they'd soon jump up then!

What is the diameter of the branches? Maybe too skinny? Mine will use branches in their run. I have some about 2" wide....

They are about that width the same yeh-one is a bit wider than the other, would think they're big enough.

Mine use the outdoor roosts every day. They are on them in my avatar. They are 2-3" oak limbs.

Aw so cute all sitting together on the roost! Bless! I wish mine would hehe.

My girls roost in their pen and preen their feathers,View attachment 1268823 .but most of the time their scratching and pecking or dust bathe.View attachment 1268824. GC

Lovely pics there thanks! Mine are much higher off the ground maybe that's the problem? Although I know they can fly/jump that high easily.

Mine enjoy their perches and use them daily. I just use tree branches that are fairly straight and sturdy. Do make sure they're well secured, a wobbly perch can make them nervous.

And of course chickens are afraid of anything new so they might be afraid of the additions and need some time to acclimate to them.

Well I thought it was perfect when I noticed a storm had broken two big branches off our garden tree and thought they'd love them, but not yet, maybe in a few weeks when they've got used to them and decided they like them.

Any time I put something new in the chicken yard you would think I tossed in a mongoose in lol. I put some lettuce in and they all ran... a while later there was not a trace of lettuce. Give them time to investigate and figure it out.

JT

Yeh hopefully it is just that, I think they'd really like the branches if they gave them a chance but they are stubborn things and just want their chairs and straw bales back I think, ah well we will see what happens. Thanks all!

 

[aquabum]

Chickens like big flat things to perch on. They don't grip around round branches etc.... I use a 2x4 or a 4x4 and they will all sit or fly up to the tall one to preen and clean or hang out.

 

[jools2014]

Wow that's interesting I never knew that! I have budgies too and all their cages come with round perches so I just assumed chickens were the same. I have two perches inside as roosts and one is a flatter one and they do sometimes prefer that. Some of the perches you can buy online are round ones, but some others are flat-so I will be sure to buy flat ones. Seems a bit silly to buy them but I want to get just the right size so I'll probably end up doing that. Great pics-thanks very much, your chickens have a lovely house and pen