Perch recommendations

[gtaus]

Has anyone done a study on what chickens like in the way of perches?

About 4 years ago, before I got my chickens, I did a lot of YouTube research on having chickens, coop building, etc... One of the videos I watched was about roosting bars in the coop.

According to the guy in the video, a state university's poultry department conducted research into the topic of best practices for roosting bars and came up with the 2X4's laid flat. Reason being, chickens do not roost with their feet wrapped around and locked on a branch like wild birds sitting on a tree branch. Chickens preferred to roost on a wider surface where their feet could rest flat underneath their bodies, tucked up into their feathers all nice and warm. Hence, he stated the university's recommendation was to use a 2X4 flat as a roosting bar, which is what he was doing in the video, and which I did when I built my coop.

FWIW, I live in northern Minnesota and we can get temps down -35F to -40F in the dead of winter. My chickens will fluff themselves up to almost twice their size by trapping air inside their feathers to keep them warm. On a flat 2X4, they are able to lay down on their feet at night and keep their feet warm. As long as there is not an up draft under the roosting bar, they should be able to keep themselves warm even in very cold temps.

If you live in warmer climates, I don't think you would have to worry about feet freezing, but still, a flat 2X4 would be comfortable for your chickens.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Has anyone done a study on what chickens like in the way of perches?

The experiment article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-perch-experiment.74272/

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Branches are cool but when constructing a straight piece of wood is easy to work with. I use 2x2's or rip a 2x4 in half and install with rounded corners up. I' have spoken to the birds and they highly recommend them.

 

[NestingMillenial]

https://www.raising-happy-chickens.com/chicken-coop-roosts.html
This article lists a couple peer reviewed paper on the subject -> 2x2 or 1x3 type things seem like they'd work well.

 

[3KillerBs]

*Personally* I use "branches" because scrub oak and pine saplings are weeds on this property while 2x4's cost money. The diameter is generally at least the thickness of my wrist.

 

[CrystalAnon]

That’s good, cause my coop builder made the roosts with 2X4s.
I heard quite a bit here about bumble foot possibly being from roosts. Maybe almost like bedsores, from standing/laying with feet on a hard surface for hours in a row every night?
I saw in another thread (can’t find it now) that people suggested buying bandage wrap from the dollar store, because you can either clean & dry them, or once they get really soiled, throw away & wrap new ones for relatively cheap. Is that something that works?
I was trying to think of something else that gives a little cushion, that I might be able to reuse (clean off, wash & line dry) many times over. Maybe something I can make… wrap with string around the roosts to secure it?
Just spitballing.

 

[rosemarythyme]

That’s good, cause my coop builder made the roosts with 2X4s.
I heard quite a bit here about bumble foot possibly being from roosts. Maybe almost like bedsores, from standing/laying with feet on a hard surface for hours in a row every night?
I saw in another thread (can’t find it now) that people suggested buying bandage wrap from the dollar store, because you can either clean & dry them, or once they get really soiled, throw away & wrap new ones for relatively cheap. Is that something that works?
I was trying to think of something else that gives a little cushion, that I might be able to reuse (clean off, wash & line dry) many times over. Maybe something I can make… wrap with string around the roosts to secure it?
Just spitballing.

They don't need cushioning on the roost. Branches or 2x4s work just fine, just sand off splinters or round off sharper edges if needed.

String would be almost a guaranteed way to accidentally kill a chicken, if they ingest it or get tangled in it.

 

[Raptor Chicken]

As has been mentioned 2x4's laid flat work just fine.

 

[Granny23]

The experiment article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-perch-experiment.74272/

After reading that round perches weren't the greatest for chickens I went today and got a wide piece of board. My 6 girls were raised on big round closet bars. Now they have one of each. Can't wait to see how it goes!
Cookie is big time molting for the first time but she is the first hen on the roosting area. This is her on the new flat roost I put in today. Up that ladder she went and she spent a few minutes checking it out and then she stepped out onto it. It was painted...the others were not hence her hesitation I think. One RIR sleeps behind her but they all go to the right side and they've always slept fairly close together. The 2 babies(about 4.5 mos now)are the last ones up the ladder.
Cookie seemed pleased but unfortunately Im not home to see how the others react.Not a 2x4....3" wide tho...lighter in weight but it's securely up there.