Perches - What your chickens want and wish you knew
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- Опубліковано 22 лип 2016
- What you need to know to about a perch for your chicken house - what it should be made of, how big, how long, how high, how to attach it and where. With pictures of perching chickens day and night - it's not as peaceful in there as you might think!
For my useful hints and tips about caring for your chickens, from my research and my own experience, subscribe to my channel: Chickens in my garden - New Zealand
/ @chickensinmygarden
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What a nice lady. Her chickens must never feel stressed.
The more of these videos the better.
+scott smith Thank you. There are certainly some chickens who live a life much less happy and less close to what they naturally need.
I agree! I could listen to her for hours.
Thank you 🙂 This is one of my first videos and I now have over a hundred, so binge away 🙂
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!
Thank you - how kind of you to say so.
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.
I've heard many people convincingly argue with this statement so I find it interesting that it's so often said in such a matter of fact way as the OP
There certainly is a lot of misinformation that is repeated again and again until people are sure it must be true. I try always to check the truth of all statements that I make, or else say something like 'I have heard but I don't know for sure ...'
Specifically on the frostbite question, our temperatures never get more than a couple of degrees below freezing and frost bitten toes are not a problem here.
@@chickensinmygarden I have Ayam Cemani Rooster/Wyandotte Hen flock, and my Cemani gets a whiteish color on comb in frigid temperatures. There are many suggestions out there to combat that. I have never done anything about it, but some call for petroleum products applies and such. I wonder what chickens did before people came up with this stuff?
This is what I have read as well. I am going into my first Midwest winter with a flock of chickens so we will see how well my 2x4 perch works for my birds.
@@vickyannpaintingwithoils what temps did/do chickens live in in the wild? That's important information to know.
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.
Thank you. I don't do those vlog-style videos, my style is more about sharing information and ideas that I hope will be useful to people who keep chickens (or just fascinating for people who are interested in chickens). It means that my videos are pretty timeless so do check out some of my others 🙂
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.
I wish all YTers would do the same.
Thank you. This was one of my earliest videos but it's still popular. If you haven't seen other videos of mine, do check them out. They vary a lot but I think there are some really good ones.
Have a great day 🙂
I try to keep it real 🙂
Your chickens are ADORABLE
I love the nighttime shot. The chickens are like what the heck! Haha
Great info! I love chickens! They make the sweetest sounds and are so beautiful!
They do, don't they! And they are!
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!
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!
Good timing then. A small point but it had reduce problems later. Good luck 🙂
Thank you so much for including dimensions on your video. I love that they have tree branches to perch on during the day.
Rachael B You're welcome. Yes chickens like real branches under the tree canopies to conceal them from any predators from the sky.
We take our branches that come down from the trees on the far side of the property and use them in the chicken yard. They love them!
Always the best chicken videos on all of the internet well done.
Thank you. This was one of my earliest videos and made with very primitive equipment but still relevant 🙂
This is what I was looking for! Thank you I needed to figure out how to make more perches. Great tips also.
Thanks. That's good to hear.
What a lovely video, lovely accent, beautiful chix!!
linda silver Thank you very much
Some of the happiest, content chickens I ever saw, thank you for sharing.
Ah yes, my chickens have a very happy life with me, and I have a happy life with them.
Informative and shows much care for chickens.
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.
Great. I'm glad you found it helpful. I hope some of my other videos are useful too.
brilliant video lots of information I didn't find in other places. thanks and stay safe!
Thank you. Best wishes to you and your chickens.
Lovely birds and music after the wise information. Thank you
Thank you. The music is a UA-cam free track called Claudio the Worm, which seemed appropriate. I have used bits of it in most of my videos.
Thank you for this what a sweet video to watch and listen to very informative 😊.
Thank you very much. It's one of my earlier videos but quite popular.
One of the most helpful videos I've seen. Thank you
Thank you 🙂 It's great to get good feedback
What a wonderful, informative and enjoyable video, thank you for sharing!
Thank you. I have several videos but for some reason everyone seems to want to know about perches.
I suspect that's because it seems to be a matter of much debate online ...
makes for great video view numbers though and is a good way to build the channel. :-)
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.
That is amazing - 14 years old! They must have a wonderful life with you. Best of luck with the new roost - I hope your old chickens like the change.
Thank you.Your video is so informative.
ahmet gulpinar You are very welcome. I'm glad you found it so.
Thank you for a great video. I wish there were more people with such kindness toward their chickens and other animals.
Thank you. This is one of my earlier videos. I have lots of others - do check out any that interest you.
Do you have chickens?
@@chickensinmygarden
We used to have chickens and ducks but haven't for many years now. Thinking of having a few chickens again.
Wow. You made such wonderful video. I thank you so much for all your wise advices.
Thank you 🙂 This is one of my early videos. Do check out some of my others.
Thank you, great advice, your presentation was very good. I’m adopting three ex bats next weekend. A joy to watch..
Thank you. I appreciate your saying so.
Thanks for this it is very nice to see that you care so much for them!! And nice chickens!!!!
Louis Barningham Thank you. Yes I do enjoy my chickens. They are fascinating. And not many other pets give you breakfast :-)
Chickens in my garden Pets r not food
Good vid
Oh, u meant d eggs.
Yes indeed I meant the eggs. I do not eat my chickens. I do not eat any chickens :-)
I use 2x4 because i live in Canada. My chickens love it as they can sit on their feet to keep it warm.
So they balance on the 2” edge of the board?
I've always wanted a chicken, and your videos make me so happy, and more willing to get one :D
I waited a long time until we had a place where we could have chickens. I had two when I was young but my brother's dog ate them! I'm glad you enjoy my videos.
+Chickens in my garden awe, I'm sorry for your lose, and yes, I enjoy your videos a lot! Hopefully when I move we have a place for some chickens!
Thanks!
Please don’t get “a chicken” they need a flock. Try to get a small group. Where I live 6 is considered minimum.
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
+lornajeanmundle I'm glad you found it helpful.
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!
Excellent. I'm delighted when people find the ideas useful 🙂
New Zealand? I like this video. Thank you
Thank you
Very good information. Glad I watched this prior to putting perches in the coop. Thanks
Thanks for watching and commenting 🙂
Σας ευχαριστώ για την βοήθεια που προσφέρετε σε αυτούς που αγαπούν τα κοτόπουλα!
Παρακαλώ (You are welcome)
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.
Great! You noticed what your chickens do (avoid the branchy perches). The chickens know what they like and they will teach us if we pay attention 🙂
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 UA-cam an educated, articulate, succinct and well
enunciated presenter who is also down-to-earth and 'simpática'.
Tomás Dietz Wow! Thank you so much! I love making the videos almost as much as I enjoy having chickens but I never thought so many people would be interested to watch them. I just passed 100 subscribers so I plan to make my next one something to do with 100 chickens. Thank you so much for subscribing and for your amazing comment.
+Tomás Dietz PS Do you speak Italian? (Or maybe it's Spanish.) Not many people would have feminised 'simpatica' nor included diacritics (you can see how lazy I am).
Yes, it's Spanish. I'm a flamenco dancer. 'Simpática' says it better than 'likeable'. :)
Tomás Dietz Are you dancing in any of the videos on your channel?
Yes. There's a video of excerpts of me performing a 'Taranto'.
Thanks for your video. Just got chickens here in Southwest Tn, USA.
Good luck. I hope you have a long and happy relationship with them.
Informative and sweet. What a pleasant lady.
seacruse Thank you. You are very kind. This was one of my first videos and technically rather inept but it remains one of my most popular ones.
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.
Chickens are funny. Once they get an idea in their heads it can be hard to figure out what they are thinking and change their minds. And you can hardly remove the rafters! I hope it goes well for you.
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!
Leo Van Cleynenbreugel Thank you. It doesn't take much to keep them happy and I love to do it. They give me a lot of pleasure.
In one video you have managed to answer MORE of my questions than ANY OTHER video I have watched so far!!!! Thank you!!!
Thank you. I'm so glad you found it useful.
PS I love your ID.
@@chickensinmygarden lol - not everyone gets it!
Thanks for the video. Very good info!
Thank you.
Thanks for the video. Very useful and to the point.
Thank you 🙂
Brilliant. This gave me some good ideas. Thank you so much!
Excellent! I'm sure yours will turn out perfect! 🙂
Thanks for the red mite warning.🐓🐣
They are a real plague here. Our temperatures never get cold enough to kill them off.
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.
Wow! Thank you. Do share some of your own ideas in the comments if you will. We all keep learning.
My son and I made one of your special watering systems yesterday and the girls seem to love it. I am putting lots of ice cubes in today as it is getting rather too warm. I haven't painted it yet its still just bare wood but will get round to painting it soon and will post a photo.
That's great to hear. Ice cubes are a great idea for hot weather.
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!
Ah that chicken math! It's all addition and multiplication. 😃
Love your videos ! ❤
Thank you so much 🙂
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.
That sounds like a very scientific approach and an interesting result. I'm sure you're right about the spacing - chickens will peck a lower ranked chicken who is within reach. And the height - having the perches all one height does seem to reduce fighting over who gets to be on the highest. I thoroughly agree that trying things and watching how your chickens react is the best way to learn what works for you and for them.
I am glad to see your comment where you really went into an investigative experiment and tell us about your finding. I have to make another perch. I am not very experienced and everyday learning more. I live between two farms and some chickens migrated to my house because I started giving them food. Not trying to make a long story here, but now two sleep on my porch sofa and you can imagine I even had to put a big plastic cover. I really love the chickens so I am figuring how to make a ladder perch that works for them in the backyard. Having the appropriate props for them is a must.
@@evarojas2567 Most of my current flock doesn't seem to have as much preference. The bantams do like the wider perches but they are small enough to completely lie down on the wide perch rather than grip it with their feet and they are less likely to get bumped off by clumsy large birds.
I just love this!
Thank you. Perches seem to be a topic that interests everyone.
Greetings from Cusco, Peru. My daughter ans I love your videos. Seems we are doing a great job and our 6 chickens are thriving.
Excellent! Your chickens are always the most important judges of how you are doing.
Thanks for the feedback 🙂
Fantastic video full of great information presented by a wonderful lady .thank you and best wishes from Ireland 🇮🇪
Thank you. This was one of my earliest videos and is still popular. Do check out some of my others.
Greetings from New Zealand, and thanks for watching 🙂
I love my chickens ... my feathery friends. 😊
Helpful, cute video. Cheers!
Thank you 🙂
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! 😎🐓❤️👍🙏
Those chickens - they have their own likes and dislikes 🙂
Very helpful information, thank you.
Thanks for watching 🙂
Thank you, very helpful!
Thanks for watching. Do check out some of my other videos. Have a great day 🙂
Thank you for the advice 😊
Thank you for watching 🙂
Thank you!. thank you ! thank you!..shall indeed proceed to apply your wisdom!..(currently building coop) ..God bless!
Good luck. I'm sure a huge amount of pleasure awaits you.
Great video, thank you for making it
Thank you, and thanks for watching 🙂
Thank you! Good idea using neem oil!
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
+Rosemary Farrow Thanks Rosemary I'm glad you found it helpful. Good luck with the new shed. Isn't it always the way that you end up needing more room for chickens than you plan in the beginning!
I thought it was just me the more room i give my girls they just want more Thank you again Rosmary
That was so useful thank you!!!
Thank you for saying so.
Thank-you, liked and subscribed!
Thank you 🙂 Welcome. I have lots of videos - do check out the ones that interest you
You are lovely ma’am, thank you so much for the info
Thank you so much for your comment
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.
Thank you for saying so. I'm sure you'll enjoy your chickens even more than you expected
Great info!
Thank you. It was one of my earliest videos but I think it's still relevant 😊
Great tips!
Thank you!
So cute!!!!!!!
Thank you
Very informative. Thanks
Thank you. I'm glad you think so.
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
It will be interesting to see how they use the new perch. Will they all spread out? Will they follow old habits and cluster on the old perch? Time will tell.
Best wishes Gilly and chickens 🙂
I loved it thanks
Love your video. Thank you very much.
Thanks for saying so. I'm glad you like them
Fabulous video. I'm subscribing 👏👏
Thank you. I don't release new videos very often but do check out my other ones - most of them never date. Cheers 🙂
Ty 😊
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 :)
Thank you. I'm glad you find them useful. I know that 'can't wait ' feeling 😀
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 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.
Thankyou
Thank you
Thanks for watching 🙂
Thankyou.
You're welcome
Thank you, so much. i was wondering about the width of the perch. love you chickens!
There is a school of thought that says wider perches are better. That might be true if the temperature gets much below freezing. We are lucky here, we have a mild climate.
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
Hello fellow kiwi! Awesome info here, very helpful thank you!
Thank you 🙂
Golly, is it hot where you are too? We've been scorching all week!
@@chickensinmygarden Oh yes, I’m not sure where you are, but here in the Far North certainly! Also dealing with smoke from the big fire sometimes which is NOT fun for my asthma lol
We're in the Bay of Plenty - moved from Manawatu to Whakatane a year ago. Still learning about this climate 🙂
@@chickensinmygarden We moved here from Auckland the year before so pretty much the same :)
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.
If they are sleeping in the nest boxes, the boxes will be poopy in the morning.
But go on, get a flashlight and go take a peep. The chickens won't mind. And it's fascinating
@@chickensinmygarden We finally had a cabin type coop built and made perches. They love their perches! They used to sleep piled up and it was not sanitary or comfortable looking. Now they all spread across the bar with their breast resting and I know they are getting good sleep. When I open the door in the morning they like to fly out into the yard and are so happy. I love your videos. There is a neem oil argument it seems between chicken people. Some say it actually gives them nutrients and deters pests. Some say it poisons your chickens. I have used it with no ill effect but I have been scared to hurt them with it. Your thoughts?
That sounds like a great setup, I'm sure your chickens are grateful.
Neem oil is quite safe for chickens, and indeed for all vertebrates. It's toxic to insects so do consider the bees and beneficial insects if you're spraying it around. Neem oil can be used to combat mites in the hen house and also applied to the chickens' skin.
Having said that, it's not suitable as food for chickens. Your comment about nutrients sounds like people are suggesting chickens eat it. I don't think that's a good idea.
Edit - I found an article where Neem oil was included in the diet so maybe it might have some benefit.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30828990/
@@chickensinmygarden I think we are on the same page. If Neem oil won't hurt them, and may have a nutrient value in small quantities if ingested, that would be a bonus, because it sure is effective as a pest control in the garden and the coop. Surely the mites are a much greater risk. I think I am not scared to use it inside the coop anymore. Thank you so much.
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!
westmeathguy Thank you. Yes leaving the bark on would be more natural and provide a good grip without any splinters. But the crevices beneath the bark make a great breeding place for mites. As long as you are vigilant (or maybe don't have any exposure to wild birds) the unpeeled branch would be lovely.
Yes, and of course you want to pick a tree species/age with a tight bark. All the best!
westmeathguy Thank you
Actually the sand paper for budgies it to keep nails trimmed
Oh, thank you for that.
I bet that Rooster feels very pleased with himself!
scarlettrubyrose I don't have him any more, I sold him to another breeder, but he was a wonderful chap, good natured as well as good looking.
Chickens in my garden He did seem like a sweet fellow. I either read it somewhere or saw it in one if your videos that when a chicken begins to lay her chest shape has a certain appearance and when she ceases laying it looks a different way. Is this something you've covered? I saw a diagram but I can't recall where it was and typing "chicken chest shape" etc in to google isn't returning the information I want, instead I'm seeing chicken dinners...:)
+scarlettrubyrose I haven't come across that, or noticed it myself. The young pullets do develop a curvier profile when viewed from above as they get towards maturity but it's quite subtle and I'm not sure it's well related to readiness to lay.
Chickens in my garden thank you for responding. If I come across it again I'll share the source with you.
Chickens are delicious 😋
Thank u
Thanks for watching 🙂
good advice my perches need work, lol, seems like they dont mind you coming with a flashlight to visit them.
It's a good idea to get them used to you visiting at night. Run your hands over them and get them used to being handled.
sounds like a good idea, will be doing that. do you ever just go and visit them because the days are so short and you just miss spending time with them?
Yes I visit them twice a day, usually about now when I let them out of the big run to free range under the trees and again in the evening to collect the eggs and lock them up for the night.
Love chickens and your accent 😍💖
Elena Schokomuffin Thank you.
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.
That's lovely to have them around. Do you feed them?
@@chickensinmygarden Yes, we are feeding them. The hen now jumps in my lap for treats. The rooster is a bit more shy.
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.
Just shining a torch in while you look around doesn't bother them - in fact it's fun and useful to see what they are getting up to. But you don't want to have it on for a long time or it will affect their laying schedule.
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!
Perfect! And as you discovered - the chickens will tell you what they need, if you will give them a chance and listen to them!
Chickens are nice.
They sure are.
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.
That's an interesting question and I don't know the answer. It will depend on what you have to work with. Ideally you will build him a tree like his old favorite. It will be high, with smooth branches of a good diameter, several branches so he can hop from one to the next but open spaces between them, some kind of canopy or cover above and a soft landing ground below. If you have an open barn you could make a high roost in it. It depends what you have. Look around and think like a rooster. Good luck 🙂
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 for the wonderful, informative video. How big should the boards be to use as a brace for the perch to support it?
I really enjoy your channel and all things chickens!
Amanda M I just use a piece of 2x4 (that's 2 inches by 4 inches in imperial sizing) because that's a very common timber size here. My perches are 2.4 meters long and the last 4 inches at each end just rest on the support.
@@chickensinmygarden Thank you! I really appreciate you writing back. Keep up the great videos!
You are welcome. I enjoy hearing from you.