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.

 

[rosemarythyme]

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.

Where have you read this?

Unless you're raising your chicks somewhere where it's very cold right now they shouldn't have problems keeping warm by snuggling together on the roost, so I wouldn't worry about their feet being cold.

Easy fix for the time being is to flip it board so they're on the 2" side. They're so small when young that they can't help but poop on the 4" side otherwise.

 

[amama]

Where have you read this?

Unless you're raising your chicks somewhere where it's very cold right now they shouldn't have problems keeping warm by snuggling together on the roost, so I wouldn't worry about their feet being cold.

Easy fix for the time being is to flip it board so they're on the 2" side. They're so small when young that they can't help but poop on the 4" side otherwise.

I flipped the boards just now, thanks. They're still in our garage with the brooder plates, but some are starting to sleep on the roosts all night. tonight is 39 degrees. It's been 80 during the day, but we had a low of around 10 a couple weeks ago.

It comes up in several places (see below for a few sources' quotes):


"Flat 2x4 roosts (wide side up) are generally superior to round roosts for chickens because they allow birds to sit flat-footed, keeping their toes covered by breast feathers to prevent frostbite in winter. While round roosts (1.5-3" diameter) can be used, flat, wider surfaces reduce pressure on the keel bone and improve overall comfort."

"Round perches work, but most chickens prefer flat 2×4 roosts—they’re warmer, safer on the feet, and better for heavier breeds"

"Width:
Chicken roosting bars should be around 4cm wide. Chickens don’t wrap their feet around a perch as wild birds do, they use their toes. They actually prefer to sleep flat-footed. This has the added benefit of keeping their feet protected from frostbite in the winter from below using the roost as protection and using their body as protection from above."

 

[rosemarythyme]

I flipped the boards just now, thanks. They're still in our garage with the brooder plates, but some are starting to sleep on the roosts all night. tonight is 39 degrees. It's been 80 during the day, but we had a low of around 10 a couple weeks ago.

It comes up in several places (see below for a few sources' quotes):


"Flat 2x4 roosts (wide side up) are generally superior to round roosts for chickens because they allow birds to sit flat-footed, keeping their toes covered by breast feathers to prevent frostbite in winter. While round roosts (1.5-3" diameter) can be used, flat, wider surfaces reduce pressure on the keel bone and improve overall comfort."

"Round perches work, but most chickens prefer flat 2×4 roosts—they’re warmer, safer on the feet, and better for heavier breeds"

"Width:
Chicken roosting bars should be around 4cm wide. Chickens don’t wrap their feet around a perch as wild birds do, they use their toes. They actually prefer to sleep flat-footed. This has the added benefit of keeping their feet protected from frostbite in the winter from below using the roost as protection and using their body as protection from above."

Quotes need a source. Folks here have done a variety of experiments on here to try and find a "perfect" roost but all that seems to come of it is that when you leave it up to the birds, there is no one perfect roost.

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

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/perch-width-what’s-the-science.1266761/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-size-roosts-and-chickens-preference.1479341/

As far as temperatures 10F isn't that cold for older juvenile and adult chickens. Not sure how young yours are since you're saying they're chicks, but as long as they have most of their feathering in they should be fine regardless of roost choice.

 

[debid]

I've been around long enough to remember when these claims about the necessity of flat roosts started. I have yet to see a scientific study to back the claims but they do get repeated often so it has become easy to find such claims in an internet search.

Chickens don't seem to care but some folks seem to care a whole lot.

It gets down around 0F here and none of mine have suffered frostbite on combs nor feet. For chickens with normal feathering, a well-ventilated enclosure with branches for roosts seems to be adequate to prevent such problems in these conditions.

 

[Three Stents]

I've been around long enough to remember when these claims about the necessity of flat roosts started. I have yet to see a scientific study to back the claims but they do get repeated often so it has become easy to find such claims in an internet search.

Chickens don't seem to care but some folks seem to care a whole lot.

How do you know the chickens do not care? They will roost on whatever is in the coop because they have no choice.