Handrail roost?

[kipper]

Has anyone ever used a handrail for a roost?

We have a 12' oak stair handrail that we were given a few years back that we ended up not using in our house. It is 2 1/2" wide and it's not the round (dowel) type, but the kind with a profile that is a square base that curves in and then has mushroom-shaped top (I hope that makes sense). It has a varnish finish. I'd like to hear what you think of this idea. THANKS!

 

[ghillie]

I used a handrail for a roost. I am going to change it out. The ladies find it too slick and are unsure on it.......joe

 

[patandchickens]

I would not waste such an expensive and NICE object on chickens. Really, they *can* roost on it but will be as happy, or happier, on a plain ol' 2x4 (not pressure-treated, and with the corners knocked back a bit if they're real sharp).

Sell the handrail, or give it to someone who can use it, or save it til you have a better purpose, IMO - too nice to needlessly throw away something like that.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Im4dabirds]

Pretty expensive roost. I'd find some other use for it or sell it on Craigslist. Use a cheap 2 x 4. You could probably buy 20 with the cost of the handrail.

 

[SurprisingWoman]

I agree with everyone else.

Craigslist is a jewel for finding people that need stuff you don't.

 

[kipper]

The handrail (along with a nicer one we did install in our house) was given to us by a friend who salvaged it from a dumpster. We appreciate the recycling and reusing objects, as much of what we have built our coop with was used, free, or craigslist bought. This item is just another of those objects, and it is not really in the type of condition most people would want for inside their house.

Thank you ghillie, that was the type of feedback we were looking for. Any one else out there with handrail roost experience?

 

[enola]

Sand off the varnish coating, then it won't be slick any more.

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
Ditto!

Nothing wrong about using handrails as roosting. After all, for thousands of years, chickens roost up in trees.

 

[kipper]

Thank you, good ideas!

 

[ChickensInTheNorthWoods]

I got hand rail scraps from my local lumber yard and my girls love them - they are big enough that they can keep their toes warm in the winter. I was going to use 2x4's but couldn't pass up the price on the scraps and they were all long enough that I still had to cut them to fit.