Anybody tried wrapping their roost bars in rope?

[kerbotx]

I fell down a rabbit hole this morning researching some issue, and eventually found my way to a YouTube video for Carolina Coops. Fancy coop builders, they are! One of the coop accessories they provide is a roost bar wrapped in hemp rope - said to promote air flow around the foot, which might help improve bumblefoot treatment. Here's a link to their website: https://carolinacoops.com/product/rope-wrapped-roost-bar/ Now, they actually sell these roosting bars, but the shipping is as much as the bar, so I thought maybe I could DIY... Think it would be worth a try? And more importantly, 1/4" or 3/8"?

 

[IamRainey]

I think Carolina Coops makes beautiful, well designed coops. But it seems to me that wrapping roosts in hemp would only give poo something to get embedded in. I'd rather have a flat 2x4 that I could scrape clean.

 

[Sonya9]

Interesting idea. I recently saw roosts covered in outdoor carpeting and have thought about doing that since I happen to have some scraps laying around. Seems like it would be especially nice in the winter.

I guess poop could be an issue but once dried it would probably brush right off.

 

[Shezadandy]

I would worry about rope (or carpet!) providing an infinite number of hiding spots for things like mites. Fine until ... it's not.

We just went with 2x4s with the wide side up. No problems with bumblefoot.

 

[JaeG]

I would worry about rope (or carpet!) providing an infinite number of hiding spots for things like mites. Fine until ... it's not.

We just went with 2x4s with the wide side up. No problems with bumblefoot.

x2 - mites are a nightmare and you don't want to give them any extra places they can hide.

 

[neo71665]

Think it's gonna cause more issues then solve problems.

Don't fix problems that you don't have.

 

[texsuze]

I thought about wrapping my 2x4 roosts with some leftover squishy rubber floor mats, which could be easily removed, but re-thinking that after reading this thread.

I always chamfer (bevel) the corners of my 2x4 roosts and sand the entire piece as smooth as I can get it.

 

[strattao]

I put them in my coop, but my flock just moved in this week, so I don’t have much to say other than I like the look and the concept. I plan on taking them out and hosing them down if they get too dirty.
The chickens seem quite happy roosting on them at night though!

 

[AllenK RGV]

If you are concerned with bumble foot it is really a matter of Big heavy non flighted breeds vs roost height. I raise mostly flighted breeds so my 5 foot high roosts are a non problem. My silkies were a bad idea that will not die out naturally, and need to be motivated to get up on a roost so stay on the ground. Were I raising Bhrama and they wanted to roost I would give them a 2 stage 12 and 24 inch high roost option and figure out which works for them and make sure they aren't hopping off into sharp rocks or hard woodchips. .

There isn't a single solution for all breeds, but being able to muck off out under and around the roosts that is a primary concern. I did get a mite infestation this spring in my third year of keeping and a serious 1x treatment(permethrin per label) of the premises and a few of the flock cured it. Somehow even the cats got those red mites. Topical topspot did those in using selamectin.

 

[Sushikune]

I installed a couple of roosting bars in our coop a couple weeks ago. One I wrapped with rope, and the other I left bare. So far, the girls have completely ignored the new roosting bars. So I don't know which they prefer. Any tips on how to get the chickens to roost where you want them to roost would be greatly appreciated (point me to a thread?)! Haha!!

Video below shows how I did it.