Trouble with a low low roost!

[JeanR]

Our domestic Chickens are thought to have "evolved" from the Jungle Fowl (non roosting avians), but Chickens as we know then, layers, roaster, fryers, show birds, well, they did not "evolve" by natural selection----they are products of MAN's Selection--from non tree roosing ancestors in Asia, and are still being made into New breeds by Man's Selection.

Asia (Marco Polo described Black Silkies--12-1300ad) -South Pacific area, has had various chickens for many hundreds of years, none tree roosting fowl, nor "flock" birds, originally.

Europe also, has kept Domestic chickens for some 100s of years, none tree roosting fowl. They were selected DOMESTIC --hung around the farm, villages, and safely roosted where they were protected, not in trees.~

There are no native chickens in the Western hemisphere, Fowl exception, is Turkeys. Earliest known chickens were arrivals from the Far East via Islanders "canoes" to South and Central America and islands off the west of South America. Africa? Also came from Asia via migrants via ship. Breeds were developed by Selection of Man.
Crossbreds are multitudes--but still are domestic chickens, and "natural selection" had those limited genetic materials.
NO, chickens did not naturally roost on round branches--but certainly can and will, if they are free range, and have trees. However, their foot has not evolved into Wild Bird foot design. As our responsibility as "chicken people", roosts to fit their feet is something we can observe and provide.

And still you will furnish round poles--your choice! And that is OKAY, too, but not my chickens...We make our own choices--but always are learning. I am still learning! Good luck.

 

[Irishhenman]

Our domestic Chickens are thought to have  "evolved" from the Jungle Fowl (non roosting avians), but Chickens as we know then,  layers, roaster, fryers, show birds, well, they did not "evolve" by natural selection----they are products of MAN's Selection--from non tree roosing ancestors in Asia, and are still being made into New breeds by Man's Selection.

Asia   (Marco Polo described Black Silkies--12-1300ad)  -South Pacific area, has had various chickens for several hundred years, none tree roosting fowl, nor "flock" birds.

 Europe also, has kept  Domestic chickens for some 100s of years,  none tree roosting fowl.   They were selected DOMESTIC --hung around the farm, villages,  and safely roosted where they were protected, not in trees.~ 

There are no native chickens in the Western hemisphere, exception of Turkeys.   Earliest known chickens were arrivals from the Far East via Islanders "canoes".    Africa?  Also came from Asia via migrants via ship.   Breeds were developed by Selection of Man.
Crossbreds  are multitudes--but still are domestic chickens,  and "natural selection" had those limited genetic materials.
NO, chickens did not naturally roost on round branches--but certainly can and will, if they are free range, and have trees.  However, their foot has not evolved into Wild Bird foot desgin.    As our responsibility as "chicken people",  roosts to fit their feet is something we can observe and design. 

And still you will furnish round poles--your choice!    Good luck.

http://www.pjlss.edu.pk/sites/default/files/15-irshad-DG khan-after proof 86-89.pdf

Jungle fowl do roost in trees, trees (actually a grass) as round as bamboo!

 

[Irishhenman]

Here are pictures of some of mine roosting tonight, as you can see all toes are covered up. The roost they are on is a popular tree branch with a diameter of around 2", in the second picture the lower roost is around 3" in diameter.

 

[Judy]

This is an old debate on BYC. Perhaps I am wrong about how far chickens feet natural and comfortably curl; it's actually just how it looked to me when I looked closely. I have also heard it claimed before that sleeping on a flat roost isn't a lot of help in keeping feet warm in cold winters, but if I were up north, I would give them flat roosts anyway.

I have also offered them a choice between a wide flat board and a narrow round pole, and not one chose the pole. Maybe I don't know the correct reason for their preference, but that's what I found. I don't think there is anything at all wrong with a branch, if it's fat enough. If they sleep iin trees, I believe they tend do so up close to the trunk where the branches are at their widest. Again, I've never had chickens that sleep in trees. Of course that could be for safety, to hide, and not for comfort..... it's like so many things chicken, no one has done a scientific study so we are speaking from experience and sometimes just guessing. We read, consider, observe -- then do what we feel works best for our flock. We will certainly not all come to the same conclusion!

 

[JeanR]

For chickens, a flat board roost is not to keep feet warm, although in the northern states, it may be a plus. Feet of chickens are well able to handle cold or we would make shoes for them (?) It is largely for balance and real rest over night. Toes are strong for scratching, but having to hang on by the toes isn't necessary with a flat surface.

Not an important item to argue about. We all do what we feel is easiest or best for our chickens--and the chickens are not telling us what to do--most people do not keep their birds long enough to have it make a real difference anyway. Those of us who may keep birds up to 15 years or so, do hope to keep them comfortable in their coops and safe. Good luck.

 

[scooter147]

If the jungle fowl didn't roost in trees there wouldn't be any jungle fowl. Too many ground predators in the Asian jungles.

 

[JeanR]

Pheasants and other Grouse, Quail, all survive with many predators. Pheasants (introduced, not native in the US, have done very well, ground roosting). And actually, while they are loners during breeding season and hens raise their chicks by themselves (and domestic hens may prefer this, also, in winter pheasants do "flock" and hunting season often is successful when they are "flocking" in the fall--even in open prairie countryside. Is this an evolutionary feature?) AND they still, in flocks, in winter, ground roost, as did the original Jungle Fowl. Domestic chickens, are far relatives of the Jungle Fowl, but still have some of the same physical characteristics. Domestic chickens generally do not thrive in the wild. Exceptions are the Hawaiian free range escapees, that thrive with more predators than the Jungle Fowl of SE Asia ever encountered. And the Key West free range chickens that thrive off Florida in country and city--the same. And Jungle Fowl did not have more predators centuries ago, and it IS possible that there are no Native Jungle Fowl left, now that man has upset the Jungles!! Even those we saw in Singapore wildlife parks, looked less like the pictures of the "original" varied Jungle Fowl species, than the present day "Jungle Fowl" that are kept and bred all over the world. (In Holland shortly before he passed away, was given some of his mimeographed records, W. Plant, of his research in the South Pacific and Asia for--"The origin, evolution, history and distribution of the Domestic fowl".
Man has upset the balance of nature that allowed each each species to have it's nitch of survival. (In the US, Bison, Wolves as examples). Domestic Fowl are not from "natural evolution" but were developed by selection, by man--in the Orient, many in China and Japan, later, India, Mediterranean countries, then Europe and more. Still not proven about the Easter Island chickens origin,off S America, but certainly they contributed to the first Domestic fowl in the western hemisphere--N. America had none. They have always depended upon man to survive and be genetically selected to make 100s of breeds of domestic fowl world wide. Domestic fowl still have some of the original characteristics of Jungle Fowl. Feet is one of them. Combs are not. Keep researching, if you can, and please, do not be offended. I appreciate everyones point of view. I do not judge anyone who lets their chickens roost on round poles, but would not let mine roost that way. It's okay......