Roosting perches???!

[nikki1]

So...Hubby and I have a stack of lumber and hardware cloth in the garage, I have detailed plans on paper, I think I got nest boxes figured out, but I'm baffled as to perches. Here are the things I need to wrap my head around:
--round or rectangular...or does it matter?
--How much perch space per standard hen?
--How thick do they need to support the ladies?
--How high off the floor of the henhouse?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

--Nikki

 

[mikecnorthwest]

Take a look at my coop page and scroll down to the photos of the interior. I used 2x4's with the edges slightly rounded off. They're mounted in some wooden brackets I tacked to the coop walls so I can just lift them in and out for cleaning.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mikecnorthwests-chicken-coop

 

[Beekissed]

So...Hubby and I have a stack of lumber and hardware cloth in the garage, I have detailed plans on paper, I think I got nest boxes figured out, but I'm baffled as to perches. Here are the things I need to wrap my head around:
--round or rectangular...or does it matter? Nope...contrary to popular myth, round roosts do not contribute to frostbit toes.
--How much perch space per standard hen? Perch space is usually about a foot for each bird as they have to have room to fly up to and situate themselves on the perch. If it is crowded when they attempt it, there is much fighting, fussing, falling and scrambling for footing. I'd not have any less than a foot per bird and more if you can manage it.
--How thick do they need to support the ladies? The perches you have pictured seem fine...the problems come in if you have very long perches with several fat hens roosting in the middle...then you can get some sway and even breakage.
--How high off the floor of the henhouse? At least a foot higher than the nest boxes unless you want the birds to nest there instead.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

--Nikki

 

[nikki1]

Wow! Thanks, guys! Lots of useful information! I'm thinking maybe a closet pole-sized dowel. My henhouse will be 4x6, so two 4-foot perches sounds like will work for my 6 girls.

Thanks again!


--Nikki

 

[Oosik]

Use 2x2 or 2x3 lumber. It's much easier for the hens to hold onto the lumber. A closet pole is too slick and the hens will not be as comfortable.

 

[Beekissed]

A closet dowel pole is much too small in diameter unless you have bantams.

 

[nikki1]

Gotcha! No dowel, go lumber. Oddly, I went lumber hunting earlier this winter, and couldn't find 2x3 at Lowe's, Home Depot, or at our local family-owned place. Is it out of style, or do I need to keep looking?

 

[Beekissed]

Do you have any woodlots near you? If so, just walk over and grab you a good, strong appropriately-sized sapling and save yourself the money and time. I've always found them to make the best roosts...poop doesn't seem to want to pile up on the roundness of the roost and it fits the claw so well.

 

[KrisH]

Gotcha! No dowel, go lumber. Oddly, I went lumber hunting earlier this winter, and couldn't find 2x3 at Lowe's, Home Depot, or at our local family-owned place. Is it out of style, or do I need to keep looking?

2x4 on the flat works great.

RobertH

 

[dollydaylillies]

so if you use saplings trees for perches how do you attach them to the structure and keep them from rolling?