should the roosts bars be round?

[Angel16]

well i have changed a 8x10 shed in to a chicken coop and the height of the coop inside is about 6 feet and the nesting boxes will be 18 inches off the ground, and the birds that i'm getting are Brown Lohmanns and hopefully later in the summer some cochins and (my favorite) Rhode Island Reds. would these chickens be able to jump 3' to the roost or should i have the ladder roosts?

 

[redneck farmer]

Me an my bro cut down a tree while back an it's about 2 1/2 in wide an is fatter towrds the end like 3 in ( skinny tree) an I heard somewhere here that using natural things from around your back yard r better for the birds so I was thinking of nailing up that tree in a tick- tac- toe formation an the coop house

 

[debid]

Me an my bro cut down a tree while back an it's about 2 1/2 in wide an is fatter towrds the end like 3 in ( skinny tree) an I heard somewhere here that using natural things from around your back yard r better for the birds so I was thinking of nailing up that tree in a tick- tac- toe formation an the coop house

I've used a young tree that was shaded to death and another that came down in a storm. I don't know if it's better for the birds or not but I like the price and I can burn it and put in a fresh one at the first sign of mites. I look for 2-4" diameter and straight for the desired length.

 

[redneck farmer]

What do ya mean mites? Trees can give em mites??!

 

[gg706]

No the trees don't give them mites. IF the chickens get mites the mites live in wood and cracks in the coop then come out at night and feed on the chickens. She is saying IF the chickens got mites she could burn the roosting pole.

 

[redneck farmer]

Ooooooo thanks for clearifing

 

[gryeyes]

What do ya mean mites? Trees can give em mites??!

Tree branches and stumps and whatnot have tiny cracks and places for mites to hide. You treat the birds and yet they still get mites, they're probably hiding in the crevices on tree branches.

When I used branches, I made sure they were de-barked and the under layer was smooth.

 

[debid]

Tree branches and stumps and whatnot have tiny cracks and places for mites to hide. You treat the birds and yet they still get mites, they're probably hiding in the crevices on tree branches.

When I used branches, I made sure they were de-barked and the under layer was smooth.

I didn't de-bark, I just sprayed with neem until wet and let it dry in the sun. I figured it couldn't hurt to make it repellent.

 

[Angel16]

Hi, dose it matter how far the water/feed/chicken grit is from the nests or roost?

 

[gryeyes]

Nope.