To perch or not to perch?

[Siry B]

Just getting the coop ready. Do I need a perch for the meat chickens??

 

[GreenSahara]

I raise a couple hundred a year and I do not give them a perch.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Some folks actually recommend that the CX not have a roost, because of their susceptibility to leg problems, My Red Rangers had roosts, but didn't use them. They seemed to prefer to just stay on the ground at night.

 

[Beekissed]

Mine loved perching and would even fly up to perch on the top of my water bucket(3 1/2 ft off the floor). I built some wide, hammock type roosts to accommodate their balance and bodies and they loved them. The goal is to raise chickens that don't have leg problems in the first place.

Raised 50 last spring with these roosts. Seemed to keep them cleaner and cooler in the summer heat. These aren't very tall but they definitely preferred these to sleeping on the floor.

 

[Life is Good!]

Our FR's roosted in both the summer heat and deep cold of the fall (2 batches at different seasons).

Our CX never did roost, but did like a low-slung downed branch to 'hang out on' during the daytime....funny to see such large chickens trying to jostle for the 'best' place on the branch!

I like Beekissed 'hammock' idea. Might have to try that with this batch of Colored Rangers I'm just starting. They're only 1 wk old, so I have a week to build something like this!

 

[Mtnmomma3]

We built a coop, no perch in the nesting box but one in the open. They sleep on the perch, out in the open rather than in the warm nesting box.