Trouble with a low low roost!

[evajoy]

Hey everybody I have just acquired two four-month-old hens, as well as the coop they grew up in. There seems to be two a roosting poles across the upstairs sheltered part, but, strangely enough, it is only a couple of inches off the ground. The previous owner did not teach the birds to sleep on these poles, instead they've been settling down in the nesting boxes = problem. I'm not sure if it's because the roosts are too low, or if it's a case of just training them to sleep there, but any suggestions would be great! I've blocked off the nesting boxes (they haven't started laying yet), and gone one night of practicing placing them on the roosts - however it's quite difficult to access and the birds are quite stressed by the whole procedure - plus they just jump off straight away. I'm thinking I may need to make the roost higher for starters...? Any advice? Cheers, Eva.

 

[Judy]

They like to sleep as high as they can. Also, man people make roosts too narrow to be comfortable for chickens, whose toes do not curl around a narrow branch or pole the way most birds' do. The wide side of a 2x4 or a fat branch work well.

 

[Irishhenman]

I would make the roosts as high as you can. Leave around 1 and a half feet from the ceiling so the hens can fit under comfortably. Around roosts are most natural, the hens feet are designed to curl around them.

A tree branch with a diameter of around 2-3 inches is best. If you can't get that I would use a 2x2 with the corners rounded off. I would not use a 2x4 as they can't get their toes around them.

 

[RJSorensen]

I'll chime in on this one with a nod to the 2" x 4" with the four inch side being the side the chickens would sit on. I don't know where you live, but if it is in a cold climate, leaving the toe's uncovered in winter can and has led to frostbite and lost digits. Not a pretty thing for sure, if your bird survives the damage to the toe(s).

For the summer and my growing birds, I have set up an old ladder, it won't do at all as they grow, and would freeze the feet off of my birds for sure in winter. They need to be able to tuck those toes up and under the breast feathers to keep them warm in winter. I believe the advice Judy gave to be the correct answer for this one.

Best to you and your birds,

RJ

 

[Irishhenman]

I'll chime in on this one with a nod to the 2" x 4" with the four inch side being the side the chickens would sit on. I don't know where you live, but if it is in a cold climate, leaving the toe's uncovered in winter can and has led to frostbite and lost digits. Not a pretty thing for sure, if your bird survives the damage to the toe(s).


Best to you and your birds,

RJ

If you are willing to wait a few hours until my chickens go to bed I will prove to you that chickens will cover their toes no matter what roost they are on. I have no clue where this myth came from but a 2x4 is not necessary for chickens to cover their toes.

 

[LindaB220]

I would make the roosts as high as you can. Leave around 1 and a half feet from the ceiling so the hens can fit under comfortably. Around roosts are most natural, the hens feet are designed to curl around them.



A tree branch with a diameter of around 2-3 inches is best. If you can't get that I would use a 2x2 with the corners rounded off. I would not use a 2x4 as they can't get their toes around them.

I wanted my handyman to curve one side of a 2" x 4" and when I came back he had made a round roost about 2.5" Four of them 6' wide. But I must say, they love it. and use the top one. All 14 of my 3 mo olds.

It doesn't get real cold here so they don't have to sit on their feet to stay warm. LW La.

 

[RJSorensen]

You are in a different timezone than me, heck even a different county. I've been to Ireland three times (for 18 weeks) and it does not get as cold there, as it does where I live. We see -20 F each year, and sometimes colder, for weeks at a time. The birds in our area that are on flat boards, be that a 2 x 4 or even a 2 x 6 don't get frozen feet, the ones on smaller roosts 2 x 2 and or round things do. No photograph required.

Look at your own posted photo, there is no way the breast can heat the toes that are clearly 'around' the pole. They are two inches or more away from the breast/bottom of the bird. It is the chest, the bottom of the bird that keeps the toes warm. Feathers can only hold in heat, if there is a source of heat. In a COLD climate the ability of the toe to stay warm is overwhelmed by sub zero temp.

I am ok to disagree with you, but this is proven fact where I live. Even our Judy, the BYC moderator stated that 2 x 4 would be best. So as far as the 'myth' thing goes, I am only trying to prevent same. If you wish to state that "in my experience small roosts work," I am ok with that, but to disprove a 'myth' is silly. And to say that I am wrong, in my experience with frozen feet, well I don't see the toes jumping back on the foot after the gangrene has taken them, because you stated that it would/should not happen. It does.

I won't be back to this thread, so it is all yours to myth bust as you will…

Your country is very beautiful by the way,

RJ

 

[Irishhenman]

I never said that toes won't get frostbite. I said that it is a myth that chickens can't cover their toes on a small roost,

 

[JeanR]

This is a picture of a Song Bird foot around a pole-or branch, curved sharp nails. Their back toe is reversed with a curved hind toe nail, to hold the bird on its perch quickly and securely--in wind and weather. If you keep your chickens' s toe nails trimmed, you will find that they are not curved like Song Bird's nails, but are straight forward--or bent, curled sideways if allowed to grow long.......
Chickens are designed differently from tree roosting avians. They are "flat footed", although they can use that back toe, but not efficiently, like Song Birds. Like Pheasants, that "roost" on the ground *(can roost in trees or on fences, sometimes, but not by choice) and Jungle Fowl, that also roost on the ground--chickens are not designed to roost safely and comfortably on round poles or tree limbs. Wild Turkeys roost in trees if they can--a different foot.
A Flat roost board, will be the most comfortable for your chickens, and their balance is kept, both flying up and down, and while "sleeping". (And yes, it does allow covering the entire foot when on the roost.)

Still, you will do what you want--but if you care about your birds, you will accomodate their comfort, because they have no voice (except to tell you they are laying eggs--and other chicken statements.) A flat board, sized to the size of your chickens (I have bantams and a 1x2 is suitable for them. And by1 Inch is deep enough.

AND if you like a rough limb with bark--what a lovely place for mites to hide! Good luck

 

[Ridgerunner]

Chickens evolved to sleep in trees on tree branches. Tree branches are pretty round.