You’d be forgiven for thinking there isn’t much to consider when it comes to chicken coop perches. Find an old piece of wood and the birds will roost on it, right? Well, with decades of experience keeping chickens, we know there's a bit more to think about than this! Not only do laying birds need sufficient space on and above their perch, but they also tend to be rather fussy about the shape of it, too.
Photo: Andrei Niemimäki
The Perfect Perch for Chickens
For a bird to perch comfortably, the perch needs to replicate a branch of a tree (the natural roosting place). Sharp, 90-degree edges on perches are uncomfortable for chickens, so an artificial perch should ideally be square with rounded off corners, to allow their toes to wrap around it and grip effectively. A 30-40mm diameter is ideal for the average-sized laying chicken; if the perch is too thin, their toes will overlap underneath, and if too thick, they won’t be granted enough grip to effectively clamp them into position.
Photo: Jocelyn Auld
The height of the perch should also be considered. It needs to be located above the nest box, so hens aren’t tempted to roost in there overnight, but shouldn’t be so high that the heavier birds don’t struggle to reach it.
Allow adequate space between perches, so there’s plenty of room for the birds to flutter up and settle without pushing against each other. Remember, some of the heavier breeds, such as Brahmas and Orpingtons, may not want to roost on perches at all.
Nestera FSC Certified Perches
Nestera perches are available in a variety of sizes, depending on the size of coop you've chosen. Our perches are made from FSC-certified pine and extruded into a 36mm square section with rounded off edges - ideal for use by your chickens in your Nestera coop.
