pvc Roost

[BuckeyeDave]

My “chicken shed” is a former smokehouse. When I had chickens several years ago I found the mature hens would fly up to the beams where they used to hang the meat. I took that a step further with my new flock, I setup shelf brackets as steps about 2 foot apart using cheap 2X2s that allow the girls to jump from one to the other, then on the beams laid cheap 2x4s on their sides in a grid pattern, as of now all of my 35+ chickens (all except silkies) roost up there all night and their droppings fall onto the sawdust floor so there isn’t any special cleanup. They can walk and hop around and adjust to their hearts content. One of my favorite things is going in there before dusk and watching them go to roost in the evening.
Peace,
Dave

 

[dlhunicorn]

Quote:
I disagree with you David (except fro the edges needing to be rounded) and agree with Cyn....
When I first got my silkies (not realizing they do not roost) I copied several little passages including this one (the info in it I have run across on several different sites) ... this particular excerpt from TheCoop group (did not save the URL)...I think game fowls may be an exception :

"...Roost boards: Just a note about round versus flat roosts. Wild birds hind toe has a curved nail. When a wild bird lands on a round limb, branch or other, the foot automatically closes around it, the hind toe faces the front of the foot,the nail may be as long as the toe, holding the bird in place through fierce wind storms and stays in position at night when the bird "sleeps". Chickens hind toe does not function this way and a chicken has to "muscle" hold on a round pole, although the front toes will curl and hold--the hind toe is not that useful in holding on--it really faces back, not front,(it gives balance to a chicken-- although a long nail may gradually make the hind toe lay sideways. The flat pole, at least the width of the open foot (standing)is a better domestic fowl roost. Toes do not need to curl and the bird will settle over the feet--keep them warm in cold weather, and not cause soreness, wear, (and possible infection) where the toes hang over the roost board."​

 

[Davaroo]

Then there you go. While I have yet to see the scientific evidence of the info in this "report," it sounds good enough. As always, my sources and models are well known, the "Golden Age" texts and observation over decades, even centuries of practice. I've watched my own birds roost and am satisfied I needn't change.

But there is always room for other ideas and you can take your pick of methods, and do that which seems best. Being a stubborn curmudgeon, suspicious of both pseudo science and "new and improved " ways, I will likely keep on with the edgewise 2 X 4's. So far so good and no need to tamper with that. No chicken has yet complained...

But I appreciate the interesting outlook and will happily add it to my future references. Thanks!