Perches - What your chickens want and wish you knew 

What a nice lady. Her chickens must never feel stressed. The more of these videos the better.

Oh my goodness you have made some very important points! I truly appreciate your well spoken manner as well. Such a joy to listen to!

She gets right to it. Too many vids talk about their kids, dogs, neighbors blah, blah, gossip, before telling us the stuff we tuned in for. And no overpowering music. Good vids.

Especially in colder climates, perches should be 2"x4", laid on the side so that the birds can cover their entire foot with their feathers and keep them warm, preventing frostbite.

This is the perfect video for information, loads of practical facts, no dragging out the subject with unnecessary fillers only to gabble out the important part, no silly influencer shrieks or exclamations, just useful information.

Thank you so much for including dimensions on your video. I love that they have tree branches to perch on during the day.

I didn't think about the nesting boxes being lower...good advice and it makes sense! Building my big roost this week so thank you!

Thank you for comprehensive and entertaining video. I'm going to create a new roost this weekend using your tips~! I only have 4 chickens now, left from 21 two-year-old chickens my neighbor gave me in about 2005. Yes, my rooster is 14 years old! The 3 hens are second generation but they are each over 10 years old and still laying 3-4 eggs per hen in the light half of the year.

This is a very helpful video! Much more detail about this subject than I’ve found or expected. I knew some of it already but didn’t dawn on me to make the perches removable!! So awesome!

So glad I found your channel. I very much enjoy your videos and find them all informative; they are well planned and presented. It's refreshing to hear on RU-vid an educated, articulate, succinct and well enunciated presenter who is also down-to-earth and 'simpática'.

I made several perches of different widths, all at the same height, square lumber with the edges well rounded to 1/4" radius(8mm) using a router/shaper. Most of the flock from tiny bantams to very large hens, seem to like the 1.5" [35mm] perch. My 5-toe breeds seem to like the wider 2 5" and 3.5" [60-90mm] but they are new and the previous owner clipped their wings so it may only be a matter of balance. All the perches are firmly attached for stability, but any permanent joints are well caulked and painted semi-gloss for sanitary reasons. I used 18" [450mm] spacing because with closer perches some hens like to peck at the feathers of others and with staggered heights they will fuss over who will have the highest spot. Some bantams still prefer squeezing into the ceiling rafters with only 4" [100mm] of head room, 2 meters up.

I think you have nailed it regarding the perch! Thank you! That exlains why they tend to stay off the branchy perches. And great advice about the linseed oil.

Thank you for a great video. I wish there were more people with such kindness toward their chickens and other animals.

I use 2x4 because i live in Canada. My chickens love it as they can sit on their feet to keep it warm.

Your chickens are ADORABLE

What a lovely lady. Videos packed with useful info & presented so wonderfully by a very likeable person who is nice to listen to. The surroundings, sights & sounds, make a marvellous background. Educational & relaxing to watch.

This is what I was looking for! Thank you I needed to figure out how to make more perches. Great tips also.

This video was so helpful. I am so glad I found your channel. I just finished making a removable perch for my chickens based on this video. Thank you for all the information and I really enjoy your entertaining videos!

Love your genuine care for chickens. I just thought our two chicks might have red mites (they start to scratch themselves a lot), so I was looking for good advice. Your advice is worth a golden heart!

Thanks for the tips. I really appreciated hearing about putting the nest boxes lower than the perches. Chicken math has resulted in building a new coop, so I want to set it up right!

Some of the happiest, content chickens I ever saw, thank you for sharing.

Always the best chicken videos on all of the internet well done.

In one video you have managed to answer MORE of my questions than ANY OTHER video I have watched so far!!!! Thank you!!!

Great video you made it very easy to understand have just bought a new shed to give my chickens more room and was worried how to install perches your way is good and easy for someone like myself who is not very diy Thankyou from the UK

Great info! I love chickens! They make the sweetest sounds and are so beautiful!

Love watching your videos. Chickens prefer to have a flat surface to rest as their feet don't wrap around the timber, like birds. They have a different structure. Flat timber between 7cm-10cm wide is preferable.

My chickens don’t like their perch. They rather use their nesting box. It is very confortable since I made it myself. So I guess I did good since they rather be in there. They are so funny when I go to lock them up for the night and all 3 are inside snuggling.They have a coop with 2 floors and is actually very cute and clean.Very lovely 😊 video!!! 👏🏼😍

I love the nighttime shot. The chickens are like what the heck! Haha

exactly what I was looking for thank you. my girls are currently roosting in the rafters rather than on the perches I built. This video will Help me make the adjustments necessary to keep them safe.

Hi, thanks for all your wonderful videos, they do say that you learn something every day and after keeping chickens for over 40 years, I have learned lots of chicken stuff in your videos. I'm in UK and really appreciate all your work with the videos, thanks very much.

Greetings from Cusco, Peru. My daughter ans I love your videos. Seems we are doing a great job and our 6 chickens are thriving.

Σας ευχαριστώ για την βοήθεια που προσφέρετε σε αυτούς που αγαπούν τα κοτόπουλα!

Fantastic video full of great information presented by a wonderful lady .thank you and best wishes from Ireland 🇮🇪

New Zealand? I like this video. Thank you

Thank you, great advice, your presentation was very good. I’m adopting three ex bats next weekend. A joy to watch..

Thanks for the red mite warning.🐓🐣

I've always wanted a chicken, and your videos make me so happy, and more willing to get one :D

im so glad i watched this - i will take back the perch material i bought and get a better flatter option... so glad i watched before i put them in! thank you

What a lovely video, lovely accent, beautiful chix!!

Thanks for this it is very nice to see that you care so much for them!! And nice chickens!!!!

I used branches with the bark still on so they'd have something somewhat rough to grip onto. I didn't know about putting the nesting box lower than the perches so it looks like I'm gonna have to lower mine. That would explain why they sleep there most of the time instead of on the perch and why I'm always having to clean poop out of the box.

Very useful to know ....I think I will add another perch ..... on these warm nights here in the UK they might want to spread out a bit .... Thank you for the vid and God bless. Gilly wife of Mark

brilliant video lots of information I didn't find in other places. thanks and stay safe!

Very good information. Glad I watched this prior to putting perches in the coop. Thanks

I discovered very early on - do not buy round dowel (1.5"/30mm") from a DIY store, the chickens absolutely hated it and would rather scrunch down on the floor. When my cheap first coop arrived it had an insubstantial round perch which the chickens disliked (half of them on floor), so I bought the thicker round dowel and made that nasty discovery that it was even worse! (all of them on floor - maybe they slide off or something!). I then went with 2x2 square stock (rough sawn timber), knocked the sharp corners off it and all of the chooks loved it. Never looked back!

Perches Thanks Wood Put hands around Able to rest on. Wide One ft per chicken Square end nice. Smooth to round. Coat Off ground Couple feet headroom Higher than nest box Nesting box lower Mites hide under perch. Be able to check under perch for mites More room is better Nail perch wood holder Great thoughts thx

I love my chickens ... my feathery friends. 😊

One of the most helpful videos I've seen. Thank you

Thank you for this what a sweet video to watch and listen to very informative 😊.

What a wonderful, informative and enjoyable video, thank you for sharing!

Big 👍! Hi my friend, very informative video! I have perches in the run like you but for some reason my chickens love to roost on top of the chicken coop! Hope you have a great rest of the week my dear friend! Take care and God bless! Animal Papa and Junior! 😎🐓❤️👍🙏

Wow. You made such wonderful video. I thank you so much for all your wise advices.

I use lengths of 3 - 4 inch dia. trees for perches and I leave the bark on. It's more natural and provides a better grip. Also I note that budgie owners like to put sandpaper like covers on their perches for the benefit of the bird's feet. Nice job on the video!

Thanks for the tips! I am making a new chicken house and the dimensions you mentioned helped me decide on the perch I am adding.

I’ve had chickens off and on for most of my life. I’ve watched a few videos about feeding, coops, and so on. I first watched you in your video about discouraging ‘broodies’ yesterday. I’m so pleased to have come across your channel! Your gentle, calm voice is easy on my ear. So many other women on RU-vid, are practically screeching in high pitched tones. They may have good ideas or suggestions, but I won’t know, I turn them off! Your approach reminds me of MS Barbara Woodhouse! She was a very special presence and special woman, too. The day before, I had removed the three broodies, put them where they could not get to the nest boxes, one by one I roused them and gave them a low toss to make them fly a bit. They almost drove me crazy with their crying and pacing! It mostly worked. I implemented broodie jail from our extra large dog crate. It’s secure and the bottom tray slides out so there’s not a mess. I put in water and feed. I went to get my three broodies out of the chicken house and lo and behold, it was only Goldie still broodie. Goldie spent the day in jail, next to the run, but cried most of the day. It was horrible! I placed plywood against the side nearest us to quiet the volume. It was in the 40s (F) last night. I put a smaller pies of plywood on top with a small tarp draped over, but leaving the ends of the kennel open to the cool. This morning, my husband calls out, “You’ve got on egg in here!” I asked him to collect the egg and release her from jail. No more broodies, for now. At least I know which ones are most likely to be good brooder for Spring chicks. I bought a pre-made coop, but quickly became dissatisfied as the birds grew. The perches are inadequate. Since I am building a better house for them, this perch info is great. Thank you so very much for your wisdom and experiences shared here. Regards...

I know if someone is being extra they will wrap slightly smaller perches with a thicker twin to help prevent blistering but if the rod was thick enough it shouldn't be that bad to start with

Thank you! Good idea using neem oil!

There are two wild chickens that spend the day in our yard. They have trees down the street that they roost in for the night. I noticed that the hen sleeps in the thinner branches, closer to the leaves, so she is hidden. I haven't actually seen where the rooster sleeps. I just know where his tree is, around the corner from our house. We aren't permitted to build a coop in our city, or I would. I love these two chickies! They're so friendly and such good souls.

I do like listening to your chicken videos. I love my hens and rooster. The coop I bought has the perches at the same level as the floor of the nesting boxes. I wonder how they sleep now. I fill it with plenty of shavings so I hope they are good. But now I really want to annoy them at night with a flashlight and see exactly how they are sleeping. haha. Have an amazing evening, and God bless you.

Brilliant. This gave me some good ideas. Thank you so much!

First time watching your channel and quiet enjoyed it as well as learned some very important things I'll need to know with 22 chickens and no real experience with them other than my aunt next door having some.

Lovely birds and music after the wise information. Thank you

On here and other places I've seen the advice that PVC pipe is not good because it's slippery. If you go over it with some harsh sand paper it solves that problem. I also think it gives less places for bugs like red mite to hide. Plastic is easy to cover with spray. Wood can offer hiding places.

Thanks for your video. Just got chickens here in Southwest Tn, USA.

Informative and sweet. What a pleasant lady.

I did not know that about perches, I would have just used a flat piece of wood like a shelf from a bookcase and I would have bolted it down to the coop walls. I wonder if shining a torch in the coop at night time would affect the chickens night time behaviour ? I would put a red coloured filter in front of the torch to not affect the chickens eyes and mine too and you can still see relatively clearly at night. I learnt that in the Army reading Maps at night. Thanks again for the great info.

Thank you!. thank you ! thank you!..shall indeed proceed to apply your wisdom!..(currently building coop) ..God bless!

I bet that Rooster feels very pleased with himself!

Thank you.Your video is so informative.

I'm enjoying your videos very much, thanks. Hoping to get 3 or 4 ex-battery chooks very soon and your channel has some great tips :)

Try not to use dowel (cylinder wood), it actually hurts the chicken’s feet after a while. Try to use squared wood blocks if it is available. Dowel will cause the chickens feet to curl inward.

Informative and shows much care for chickens.

Thanks for the video. Very useful and to the point.

That’s a nice roomy run for the chickens. Round perches are fine for variety and even for a swing, but for roosting at night they should be sitting on something broader than that. If you live in a cold climate that has freezing temperatures it is imperative that you have perches wide enough (4” minimum, wider is better). Any part of the toes or legs that peek out from under the feathers during the night will get frost bitten. The poultry forums and chicken support groups are FULL of reports (with sadly graphic photo evidence) of chickens with frost bitten toes and sometimes the entire feet due to roosting on too-narrow perches that left their feet exposed during the night. Amputation of toes or foot is the only recourse in these situations, leaving the bird needing to learn how to adapt to walking with just a stump (sometimes both feet need to be amputated and it’s a sad thing to see people going through this with their birds. If gangrene sets in the poor animal needs to be euthanized. This is an avoidable situation if proper planning is instituted. WHAT WORKS IN WARM CLIMATES DOES NOT WORK IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES. Chickens are fine in cold climates, they have a nice warm feather coat and warmer body temperature than humans, but you have to be mindful of things like this. Also, do your research to find a local veterinarian who is knowledgeable about poultry health and able to do surgery, etc. on them so you’ll have someone to take your chickens to if such an emergency develops. Don’t wait until injury or illness has occurred to frantically hunt for one while your birds are in pain.

I've heard perches need to be round and I've heard they should be flat... also, I've given my chickens plenty of room but they always perch smushed together tight.

Thankyou

Thank you, so much. i was wondering about the width of the perch. love you chickens!

You are lovely ma’am, thank you so much for the info

The roost shouldn't be round because at night they are going to sit for a longer while so they can relax sitting instead of holding up curled fingers.

Ty 😊

Rooster curl worm can't be used because its also a perch and has a hammer back. Regards Kirsty HawkShaw

good advice my perches need work, lol, seems like they dont mind you coming with a flashlight to visit them.

Chickens are delicious 😋

Chickens are nice.

Hello, I'm wondering if the neem oil you used to coat the perch is the same type of product that is sold as pest control for plants. Or, if you mix your own, what would the ratio of neem oil to water be? We will be setting up our coop soon :) Thank you!

Thanks for the video. Very good info!

Hello fellow kiwi! Awesome info here, very helpful thank you!

Very helpful information, thank you.

Thank you, very helpful!

Thankyou.

Great video, thank you for making it

Thank you for all the valuable information. I have a question, I have a wild rooster that has become part of the family for the past 3 years. He was recently chased out of his fav sleeping at night time tree. He now is struggling with finding a place to perch away from predators. Is there any suggestions to how we can create a spot for him? During the day he hangs in the front yard and wonders the neighbors yards as well.

I have a wooden perch and i do paper ductape around it bc somtimes wood gives harsh and it givess bacteria i have mites now but its going better bc we did producht on them❤❤

Thank-you, liked and subscribed!

Helpful, cute video. Cheers!

Thank you for the advice 😊

Beautiful accent.

I just love this!

Great info!

I used tree branches for my roost,,Thick about 2 1/2 to 3 inches Here in Ms. we dont really cold here,,,But I have heaters set inside their coop set on timers to come on for 2 hrs,,,then off ,,,and so on