Poopy roosts

[amama]

My chicks are growing well, and some love using the little roosts (2x4s about 3 inches off the ground) in the daytime. The roosts are covered in poop though! It's really gross as they just sit in it. I'd like to cover them with something easy to clean, but don't want to discourage them or cause spraddle-feet, or is that something only days old chicks can get?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Just clean off the roosts at least once daily. A putty knife works well to scrape off poop..

 

[debid]

I use a smaller branch, only 1-1.5" diameter for chicks, and they don't poop on it. The only way it gets dirty is if they step in some right before hopping up.

 

[Three Stents]

for the chicks, I would have them roosting on the narrow side of the 2x4. Once their feet don't hang over the edge, flip the board so they are roosting on the wide side

 

[amama]

I use a smaller branch, only 1-1.5" diameter for chicks, and they don't poop on it. The only way it gets dirty is if they step in some right before hopping up.

Branches would definitely solve the problem and I used to do that with my previous chicks, but I've read a lot of things that say round roosts are bad for their feet development and harder for them to tuck in and keep warm, so I'm trying flat/rectangular roosts.