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

[electrycmonk]

Thanks, I had not seen that article or the German study it referenced. It was an interesting read. I could not find that study but I'll admit I did not search really hard. Maybe someone else more diligent would have better results.

The results of a study like this will depend on the assumptions they make when setting up the study and the criteria they judge it by. Why did they choose the size perches they tested? I'd love to see why they chose to not test a large diameter round perch or a wide flat perch, for example. Are their assumptions on the importance of pressure that important? Would other factors perhaps be more important? Not just mites but maybe how much below freezing or how hot it might be? I'm sure there are others.

They make a good case for what they are studying but I consider it more one piece of the puzzle and not the entire picture.

Just stumbled over an old article I read here in the UK and reminded me of this thread. It's very interesting, although they don't link to the source info: https://www.yourchickens.co.uk/care-and-advice/the-perfect-perch-1-2842822

I'm familiar with that article too but the only problem with adding things to the outside of the perches is if you have an outbreak of mites it gives them lots of cracks and crevices to hide in and avoid the treatment that will kill them.

I most fascinating topical addition.

Regarding the idea that wrapping rubber bike tubes around the perch, that is really neat; and to think they studied the pressure points and pressure pad/zones as well? Awesome data points to consider, for sure.

Regarding the fear of mites infiltration into the rubber "underside" or "folds" pre-supposes the installer was ignornant or mearly careless in the install. Given the level of interest in the topic and this thread also referencing the two cool research threads on here... I'd like to offer a suggestion on the likely hood of mites getting into the rubber edges or truly underneath it.... It is likely, given there size that some could get in the cracks/folds of the rubber... Just like the rings on the ends of a Dowling rod of wood. *IF* someone were to wrap a Dowling rod with an inner tube like the handle of a tennis racket it is very likely the mite would try to stick in that folder over zone.

However I'd like to suggest that the bug spray would likely stick to those cavities like a "Jolly Rancher's sour apple to your tooth."

As for size and shape of perch... I posted in that thread (here) what tests I had repeated from the thread....

I'm not in fear of mites being a huge problem with the rubber tube sealed on one end by electrical tape and wound snug around the wood Dowling ... A light soaking of pymythryn(sp) aught to do the trick?

 

[HollyWoozle]

I'm not in fear of mites being a huge problem with the rubber tube sealed on one end by electrical tape and wound snug around the wood Dowling ... A light soaking of pymythryn(sp) aught to do the trick?

In the end I did try wrapping our perches with rubber insulating tape. It didn't really seem to make a difference to the chickens themselves and I found it quite hard to work with in the end - as the edges got dusty and dry they came away from perch and did make good crevices for mites, and of course once you start spraying/powdering permethrin or similar into those crevices then you just make the tape unstick even more.

I'm glad I tried it and I expect someone else could do a much better job than me, depending on their choice of tubing/tape and size of perches and so on. I took the tape off in the end and am getting on much better now, having gotten on top of mites using permethrin products and also vaseline on the ends of the perches and in any crevices.

Our primary perch set-up is actually a pair of parallel perches, connected (sort of like a ladder with just a rung at either end to keep it together), resting on two old milk crates on a table. The wood is probably about 4cm across, square, without rough edges. Can't say they are super smooth or particularly rounded either, but we have never had any problems caused by them. We do have ramps up to our perches which I think really helps - pretty much all our chickens use the ramps instead of jumping up and down.

We have had up to 20 chickens so we do also have a few other odd perches around the coop too, but they are all square and wood of similar width.

 

[Ms Frizzle]

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/

 

[aart]

I actually repurposed some old tobacco sticks to use as my roosts.

What do tobacco sticks look like and/or measure out?

 

[centrarchid]

I’m so happy to be educated about this! Thank you, so much! We had a local contractor build our coop and he put in a roost with round dowels (I didn’t know any better!) Consequently, last winter two guineas really got badly injured feet, and I had to have one put down ☹ All this talk about them being able to cover their feet with their feathers makes perfect sense-what a down blankets made from?! I cannot thank you enough. My husband has already agreed to putting in a new roost that he’ll build for my birds. I’ll tell my friend, who also had the same problem with her guineas’ feet. I love BYC! You are all so giving with your knowledge.

You are going to repeat the same mistake because you do not know what it was.

 

[Kellow1]

The roosting bar in the coop is round, and the short roosting bars in the run are rectangular, flat side up. I am not sure which one they prefer, as they have no choice!
[/QUOT
Chickens don't cling to the roost bar like birds do so they should have flat, wide bars so that they can sit on their feet.

 

[RoosterML]

Mine dont seem to mind at all.View attachment 2290725View attachment 2290726

They don’t seem to have much of an option