perches

[jgarner1327]

My question is What do chickens need to stand on for sleeping at night? Mine stand on a shelf or huddle in the corner, which have a little straw on both, and sometimes they sleep in the box they lay their eggs in. I don't think these ideas work and am wondering what other people suggest.

 

[HopeSprings]

Someone here did a trial and found that they liked the 2x4 roost with the wider side up. Mine are set over 2' wide poop boards that are covered in a layer of sand -- easy, and actually zen-like, to sift the poop out!

 

[DobieLover]

My question is What do chickens need to stand on for sleeping at night? Mine stand on a shelf or huddle in the corner, which have a little straw on both, and sometimes they sleep in the box they lay their eggs in. I don't think these ideas work and am wondering what other people suggest.

The study I read was a preference for about 1" to 1.5" rounded edge roosts. I had 2x4s, wide side up for over a year. I recently build a bigger coop and decided to rip the 2x4s in half and round and sand them. My birds seem to prefer their new roosts.
Yes, scooping poop out of sand (mixed with PDZ in my case) is a satisfying Zen moment!

 

[so lucky]

I have had two by fours up, with the wide side up for several years. I am thinking about finding a branch or pole about 1.5 inches across and see if they like it better. They don't seem to have very good grasp on the smooth 2 by 4.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I use branches about 2 to 2 1/2" in diameter, since they're free.

 

[WhoDatChick]

The study I read was a preference for about 1" to 1.5" rounded edge roosts. I had 2x4s, wide side up for over a year. I recently build a bigger coop and decided to rip the 2x4s in half and round and sand them. My birds seem to prefer their new roosts.
Yes, scooping poop out of sand (mixed with PDZ in my case) is a satisfying Zen moment!
View attachment 1867195

Beautiful setup!

 

[DobieLover]

Beautiful setup!

Thank you!
It took quite a while to get the coop and run completed as I was battling it out with my rooster during construction. I've linked the coop article to this new coop in my avatar if you want to see more details.

 

[bobshere]

I live in the cold north where it goes to -30c in the winter so I use wide side up of the 2x4 so they can sit on their feet to keep their toes from freezing. I guess it depends on where you live.

 

[DobieLover]

I live in the cold north where it goes to -30c in the winter so I use wide side up of the 2x4 so they can sit on their feet to keep their toes from freezing. I guess it depends on where you live.

It gets pretty darn cold where I am too. The chickens feathers still cover their feet even if they roost on 1.5" diameter perches. And the narrower perches help reduce breast blisters in larger heavier breeds.

 

[aart]

am wondering what other people suggest.

Lots of options, as long as they are at least about 2" anything will work. I like the 2x4 wide side up but some also roost on the 2x2 edges and right on the flat part of the poop board.

satisfying Zen moment!

That's a bigass Zen garden!!
But I know what you mean.

I've linked the coop article to this new coop in my avatar if you want to see more details.

Bout time thought it wasn't done, am new to multi-paged articles.
Coffee brewing, looking forward to the reading!