Roosts

[dianefbarfield]

What shape should a roost bar be?

 

[3KillerBs]

That is a subject of tremendous debate and partisanship.

The one thing that all can agree upon is that it shouldn't have any sharp edges, so if you use a 2x4 be sure to round over the corners.

Most popular options are:

1. 2x4 wide side up
2. 2x4 narrow side up.
3. Natural branches/saplings (mine are at least as thick as my wrist and rarely thicker than my husband's wrist).
4. Other random lumber according to what one has on hand.

I use #3 and #4, especially #3 -- because 2x4's cost money while pine and scrub oak saplings are weeds that have to be cleared out anyway.

People often argue this with great passion but the truth is that the owners care a lot more than the chickens do.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Probably easier to say what a roost *shouldn't* be - nothing rectangular/square set on a diagonal, so the sharper edge of the wood is facing up. Nothing too narrow/thin, too flimsy to hold up the weight of the birds, too slippery. Past that, the birds honestly probably aren't all that picky.

 

[mowin]

I used 2x3 and didn't round the edges. It makes sense to do so. I'll probably do that to the roosts in my new coop.