Question for the BIG girls

[chickawhat]

I’ve add 4 Big girls to my flock. 2 Favreolles, a Brahma & a Jersey.
My question is, should i construct some sort of wide raised platform for the big girls to roost at night, I've heard that they can be reluctant to perch on 2x4’s and can have issues w/ agility going up and down off the roosts.
currently, i have an 8x8 walk in coop. i have an L shaped roost w/ poop board that span the entirety of 2 walls. if i remember correctly the poop boards are 32 inches off the ground and the roost is 8 inches above that. she i add another roost/poop board set up or should i do something different and easier to access for when these tiny chicks become big girls.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you post some photos of your set-up?
@azygous has some larger birds - she may be able to offer some suggestions.

 

[azygous]

When you buy large breed baby chicks, they should have a warning label attached: "This chick will grow up to be large, heavy, and clumsy. Low perches needed."

Indeed, these large breeds, Cochins, Brahmas, etc, will be pushing ten pounds at maturity and will be heavier as they age, and high perches can be dangerous. Picture a 300 pound human trying to jump down from the tailgate of a large truck without caving in their knees.

I made this mistake with a sweet Brahma rooster. He broke his leg trying to dismount a 30 inch high perch. Now I have a special perch just for my plus-size models. It's ten inches off the floor, and they appreciate it.

 

[RojoMarz]

Our Brahma pullets roost on a 2x4 (wide side up), no problem. Our poop board is 24" off ground, plus roost 8" above that. There is a ramp for them to use.

 

[Folly's place]

Really large Brahmas and Jersey Giants can injure themselves coming off 'normal' perches, and it's been recommended that they have nothing over 24" high. My hatchery JGs and Brahmas never achieved that size, and the Favorelles weren't ten pounders either, and they all did fine four feet up or sometimes higher.
I use saplings or small tree trunks for perches, and some of my birds roost eight feet up on 4" fence posts used as rafters in my old coop section. The roosts range from 2" to 4" diameter, and it seems to be more about location than anything else, where higher status birds choose first, and others fit in.
Nobody has dimensional lumber, except for the few who like the rafters nine feet up in the newer section.
Mary

 

[chickawhat]

Can you post some photos of your set-up?
@azygous has some larger birds - she may be able to offer some suggestions.

I’ll get out their today and snap a few pics.

 

[chickawhat]

When you buy large breed baby chicks, they should have a warning label attached: "This chick will grow up to be large, heavy, and clumsy. Low perches needed."

Indeed, these large breeds, Cochins, Brahmas, etc, will be pushing ten pounds at maturity and will be heavier as they age, and high perches can be dangerous. Picture a 300 pound human trying to jump down from the tailgate of a large truck without caving in their knees.

I made this mistake with a sweet Brahma rooster. He broke his leg trying to dismount a 30 inch high perch. Now I have a special perch just for my plus-size models. It's ten inches off the floor, and they appreciate it.

Do you happen to have any pictures of your full figured parking perch? I know the faverolles have a difficult time with the dismount because of their furry faces. So I’m going to just consider them part of that group. also do you have any issues with your other birds taking over their special perch

 

[Flockincrazy]

I’ve add 4 Big girls to my flock. 2 Favreolles, a Brahma & a Jersey.
My question is, should i construct some sort of wide raised platform for the big girls to roost at night, I've heard that they can be reluctant to perch on 2x4’s and can have issues w/ agility going up and down off the roosts.
currently, i have an 8x8 walk in coop. i have an L shaped roost w/ poop board that span the entirety of 2 walls. if i remember correctly the poop boards are 32 inches off the ground and the roost is 8 inches above that. she i add another roost/poop board set up or should i do something different and easier to access for when these tiny chicks become big girls.

I put in a lower perch for my big girls and boys 7in off the ground they are much happier they are only 17wks and already weigh 9.4lbs-10lbs

 

[azygous]

Wanda the one-year old Black Sex Link is inspecting the perch, but she sleeps up on the higher ones. That's the point. Most chickens prefer higher perches. Heavy breeds seem to be aware of how heavy they are, and actually prefer the low perch. I use three-inch diameter pine branches, debarked and sanded smooth.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I have a HUGE Brahma hen and a big Cochin, too. Lots of foot problems from roosting at "normal" heights. I lowered the roost to 9 inches off the ground. I've had zero problems since then. The Brahma roosts just fine. The Cochin prefers to sleep on the ground, but usually ends up under the roost. That's bad news for an all white, all feather Cochin. I put her up on the roost every night - such a big baby...