winter roost questions

[zzGypsy]

Quote:
ooo.. I may have a couple of those that would work. good idea.

I thought about wrapping the metal with the foam tube you use for insullating pipes - it doesn't hold up indefinitely but it's cheap and gives a 1/2" insullation, and it's slightly squishy so it should be comfortable. only problem is that it doesn't solve the outside/wind problem. so it looks like inside roosts / ladders.

I've got some left over 4" PVC pipe and I've been meaning to make feeders, so maybe it'll just be a chicken and turkey construction weekend.

re: barefoot in the snow - yeah, grew up in colorado and I've been known to do that. stimulating but not that much fun for long ...
still, my ducks and geese don't seem to mind. given dry shavings and fresh snow, they're more likely to be out with their little bare webfeet in the snow than not.

 

[frostbite]

Yes, making inside roosts sounds like the best plan. And then you can wrap the pipes when there's a freezing risk with burlap and string, or cardboard and duct tape, or even grocery bags and duct tape, just so that either the bare metal is covered to protect their feet, or to discourage them from roosting there.

 

[ruralmom]

I have also read that for peafowl and I do not know why it would not work for other birds is lay pipe heat tape around a pipe or the 2 x 4 lay old carpet or towel over the tape and it will help keep the most vulnerable spot on a bird, their feet, from freezing. I am in colorado also and have a huge cold and wind problem. I too am having a winter turkey roosting issue.