Perch width, what’s the science?

[Dave Vickery]

I've only been at this for two year, but I have three different types of perches for 13 hens and a rooster. I have 2x4 pine, 1x4 cedar and 2x2 pine perches. They seem to prefer the 2x4s. Also, just based on observation, it's apparently easier for them to keep their feet warm in the winter when their feet aren't curled around a narrow 2x2. During the winter they spend many hours sitting close together on the 2x4s with feet covered completely by their bodies. Maybe variety is good, but for protection from frostbite, a wide perch is best.

 

[centrarchid]

When it comes to the business of keeping feet warm, I have over the years had chickens roosting 20 feet up in trees where they had essentially no protection from wind. Tree were deciduous. When temperatures dropped down to below 0 F, then birds would move to more protected locations like a conifer tree or building if available. They would sometimes move 100 yards to make that happen. If no such cover available, then the birds would roost on ground sometimes even in snow where wind velocity much lower. I did not observe frostbite on feet. Currently they roost on 1 x 2 or 1 x 3 sticks in pens with minimal protection from wind, again with no evidence for frostbite. Frostbite that has been seen was associated with birds confined in poorly ventilated locations where humidity builds up. Frost bite on toes then preceded by frostbite on comb or health issues.

 

[Dave Vickery]

That's interesting, I'll be thinking about this during winter especially. Makes sense there's more risk from humidity than wind and 20F with high humidity and limited air flow may be more dangerous than sub-zero with low humidity. Perhaps perch width is not relevant.

 

[Henrik Petersson]

I find it quite asinine to use "avoidance of frost bite on feet" as an argument for wide roosts.

I have many times had trouble with chickens getting frostbitten combs, but not once has anyone gotten frostbite on their feet. Even if they walk around on snow all day. Just as all native birds here walk and fly around with bare, unfeathered legs and feet all day in winter.

So how bloody damned cold would it have to be for a chicken to get a frostbitten toe? How the hell would her comb look like at that point? I imagine like a popsicle. Probably the same with her wattles.

Point is, if your chickens start freezing their toes off, getting wider roosts shouldn't be your first course of action.

 

[Shadrach]

Somewhere up above is a link to a study (science?) that claims round perches are better for the chickens feet.
The frostbite and wide perch debate is imo a red herring. If your birds are in a coop and still getting frostbite then there are coop problems.
Looking at pictures, reading accounts, and from my own experience chickens tend to curl their toes over the front of wide board perches anyway i.e. they don't perch flat footed.
Pulling chickens off perches and estimating their grip strength may fun but unless someone comes up with a reasonably accurate method of measuring the forces used by the person and the chicken the experiment seems a bit pointless to me.
The point about the round perches and perches with irregular profiles is that the chickens foot gets exercised while they perch and in the long term this is better for the chickens foot.
It's the long term effects of perch shape that may be important.
It may be possible to guesstimate a chickens perch preference by offering a selection of differently shaped perches, but if the chicken uses the same criteria in perch choice as they do for food for example, you may find a duck down quilted sofa comes out as favorite.

 

[Crow-ded house]

My chooks get whatever is handy. Branches from the woods and mop handles. The bantams run and coop get the smaller ones and the bigger chooks get the sturdier branches because of weight. They do not mind when we change them out for better ones. They roost the same.

 

[Mrs. K]

I got a rooster from a friend with frostbit toes, no toenails. His comb is a bit rounded. I was surprised at Centrachids remark that frostbite will show up on toes before combs, which is contrary to what I observe. I have gotten a bit of frostbit on combs, and sometimes wattles, but never on toes. I had never seen it until I got this rooster.

Perhaps I have misread it.

I have found that if you put a wide board up at roost level, chicks will go to roost much earlier, as in weeks earlier. I think they do like a flat surface to roost on, until they get much bigger. The broody hen will go up there and call, and they can still snuggle into mama if they want.

Mrs K

 

[centrarchid]

I got a rooster from a friend with frostbit toes, no toenails. His comb is a bit rounded. I was surprised at Centrachids remark that frostbite will show up on toes before combs, which is contrary to what I observe. I have gotten a bit of frostbit on combs, and sometimes wattles, but never on toes. I had never seen it until I got this rooster.

Perhaps I have misread it.

I have found that if you put a wide board up at roost level, chicks will go to roost much earlier, as in weeks earlier. I think they do like a flat surface to roost on, until they get much bigger. The broody hen will go up there and call, and they can still snuggle into mama if they want.

Mrs K

I am surprised too. Reread my last sentence.

 

[Mrs. K]

haha- I should have re-read before I posted. "preceded ...as in comes before...

 

[Shadrach]

A few posters have advocated a wide flat perch as a means of reducing the occurrence of frostbite in chickens’ feet.
I have a contact in Finland who is about to change to a multi coop system and just out of curiosity I asked him about his perches and if frostbite was a problem he encountered.
He keeps a breed of chicken bred in Finland (I can’t remember how to spell,or pronounce the name).
Of course, well ventilated coops are important for all chickens and particularly so when chickens are free ranging in snow and slush because they often roost with damp feet and damp feathers.
Anyway, he uses heated perches.
The perches are 2 inch diameter hardwood.
The perches are cut in half lengthwise.
A semi circle is routed into each half.
A length of copper pipe is laid in between the two sections and the two sections are glued and crewed together.
Pipe work attached to both ends of the perch pipe
He uses a fish tank pump and water heater to pump warm water through the copper rod in the perch.