What shape of roosts do you use in your chicken coop?

[PioneerChicks]

Just a fun poll. And please post below why you use your type and what you chickens tend to prefer!

Please also check out this poll: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/are-your-roosts-equal-heights.1403369/

 

[Ryguy3684]

I voted rectangle, flat side up, for my 2x4s laying flat. My Buff Orpingtons are big birds, and they like to lay down, covering their big ol feet. I asked my hens which one they prefer, but I couldn't understand a word they said. Unfortunately, I'm only fluent in turkey.

 

[RainbowHen]

Rectangle. Flat side up. Important in winter especially. They will completely cover their toes and prevent them from freezing. Wisconsin here. Have had frozen solid feet. Hard lesson learned.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you read this experiment you'll see that they don't care if the roosts are flat, round, narrow, or wide. People do but chickens don't.

Perch Experiment

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-perch-experiment.74272/

If you look at this photo you'll see that the can actually grip.

This photo is my main roosts, made from tree branches. I used them because an ice storm the previous winter made them available when I needed something.

This photo shows my juvenile roost, a 2x4 on edge. I used it because it was available when I needed something.

I did some experimenting myself before the guy that did the experiment documented above. I used tree branches, 2x4's flat, 2x4's on edge and reached the same conclusion he did. People care about this but chickens don't.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Huh. Six or seven votes but not many comments. We have 2x4's laid flat as roosts, as chickens don't grip with their feet like songbirds. They need a wide, flat surface. Songbirds and parrots grip with their toes and hunker down as they sleep. The more they relax and the lower their bodies sink, the more tightly the tendon in their leg grips the branch, so the more deeply they sleep, the more tightly they grasp. Not so with chickens!

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

I use a think branch as my roost, and they seem to like it. It’s round, obviously. I don’t see many rectangular branches around these parts.

 

[orloffer]

I voted rectangle, flat side up, for my 2x4s laying flat. My Buff Orpingtons are big birds, and they like to lay down, covering their big ol feet. I asked my hens which one they prefer, but I couldn't understand a word they said. Unfortunately, I'm only fluent in turkey.

Fluent in turkey? I would love to learn Coturnix Quail. Then maybe they wouldn't be so frightened of me.

 

[RoosterML]

I use thick branches 4”+ and 4x4. They use them all.

 

[reddogmaster2]

When they were CLEAN during the build!

 

[RoosterML]

We use 2x4s stood on edge. The birds seem to like this as they often roost in the rafters of their coop.

My guess would be they like the rafters because of how high they are. They told me they didn’t like 2x4 on edge