Perch recommendations

[alpacasandchicks78]

I've come to the time where our silkies need to be moved. Does anyone have a particular brand of perch to recommend?? I can't find any that assemble low enough for them to use that has a perch large enough for their feet. Casper and Bijou thank you for any recommendations.

 

[nuthatched]

I'd get a 1 inch dowel rod and build one.

 

[saysfaa]

I don't think I've heard of anyone buying a perch with a brand name. I see either branches from the woods or pieces of wood - scraps unless the person has enough chickens to need a long piece.

I would look in the scrap bin at the lumber store if you don't have trees or a scrap wood bin at home. Or for a piece of scrapped furniture. Some wood moldings could work.

Look for something narrow enough for their tails to hang down one side while still having their toes curl over the other. Most people think anything less than an inch wide is too narrow - it puts too much pressure on too small of an area of the chicken's feet or breast bone. Many people think anything less than 2" is too narrow. Some think anything less than the wide side of a 2x4 is too narrow, at least for standard sized birds. I was in one of the wider is better (3"-4") camps, until Mocha insisted on sleeping on the narrow edge of a 1x4 for months despite having lots of wider options in what I thought were more attractive locations (higher, sheltered, clearance from walls, etc.)

Round the edges if they aren't rounded. A standard 2x4 stud is often rounded enough; it doesn't need to be round - just rounded. People who have round roost tend to be happy with that. People who have a pretty flat roost tend to be happy with that.

It shouldn't have splinters but doesn't need to be sanded smooth.

 

[gtaus]

I have standard sized chickens and use a 2X4 laid flat. From what I understand, chickens like a roost where they can lay their feet flat and put their body on top of their feet to keep their feet warm in cold weather. Chickens are considered ground dwelling birds, and don't have the same type of feet as small perching birds which wrap their toes around a branch and lock them in place.

A 2X4 laid flat is wide enough for the chicken to roost overnight, and yet narrow enough so their poo drops to the ground without messing up the roosting bar.

 

[ValarieF]

I recommend 2x4's or big 3-4 inch round wood. Chickens don't naturally curl around a post and keep their feet flat and sit on their feet and keep them warm in the winter. Anything wood, flat around the house? Or outside maybe something your not using anymore? Big logs from trees are good also.

 

[3KillerBs]

People who have round roost tend to be happy with that. People who have a pretty flat roost tend to be happy with that.

The humans seem to care more about a perfect perch than the chickens do.

I like natural branches because they're free on my property while 2x4's cost money.

 

[perkolator]

I was using 2x3 lumber in our coop, but they don't even sleep in the coop. In the run I use 2-3" branches as roosts. Our one remaining silkie hangs out with all the full-size birds up in the roosts just fine.
(Buff Silkie cockerel in background)
View media item 7948115

 

[CBDean]

Has anyone done a study on what chickens like in the way of perches? I see a lot of owners like flat 2x4's, some like them on edge, & some like branches. I have 2x4's flat in the coop but some of the chickens will roost on a short piece of plywood I have in the coop. It is only 1/2 inch thick while others are happy on the edge of the feeder and water bucket. (I have had to put chicken wire around the top to stop them). I think I will get a couple of branches to try. I am going to replace a couples of the 2x4's and see which one they like best. Going to try and arrange them so they are at the same height.

 

[3KillerBs]

Has anyone done a study on what chickens like in the way of perches? I see a lot of owners like flat 2x4's, some like them on edge, & some like branches. I have 2x4's flat in the coop but some of the chickens will roost on a short piece of plywood I have in the coop. It is only 1/2 inch thick while others are happy on the edge of the feeder and water bucket. (I have had to put chicken wire around the top to stop them). I think I will get a couple of branches to try. I am going to replace a couples of the 2x4's and see which one they like best. Going to try and arrange them so they are at the same height.

Welcome to BYC.

Someone did do an informal study but I don't have the link handy.

IMO, chicken owners care more than the chickens themselves do.

 

[Wendy Bee]

Here's what we do

In the coop:

In the run: