How to build a perch for chickens yourself: standard and original designs

To obtain maximum productivity from laying hens, you need to take care of creating optimal and comfortable living conditions for them. When constructing a perch, it is important to take into account the physiological characteristics of such a breed of birds, their size, weight and other parameters on which the dimensions of the chicken coop will depend.

The perch for the hen is primarily used to ensure that she lays eggs not in the corners of the hen house, but in a place specifically designed for this. It is optimal to build perches in a shaded place with easy access. The correct design of this kind of structure is done with a minimum slope of 10 degrees so that the eggs can roll into a specially prepared tray.

If the farm has little free space for walking the bird, it can be kept in cages. In order for the chickens to feel comfortable on the perch, it is important to calculate what distance will be needed for each individual breed of bird. At the same time, in winter, chickens huddle together to keep warm, and in summer the picture is completely different, so they require additional space on the perch.

Varieties and design features of perches

In principle, perches for chickens are no different, the only thing is that for laying hens they are located higher than usual. This is because the egg-laying bird should be more developed physically and therefore it is subjected to additional loads. And thanks to the rise of the chicken on a high pole, constant physical activity is maintained.

Most often, the following types of perches are built in the chicken coop:

• several perches located at different levels along the wall. It is difficult to call such a design optimal, since chickens like to climb as high as possible because of which they will push on the upper tier. This perch option is only advisable in chicken coops with very limited space;
• portable design from a table with bars. This design is easily transported and is called a hygienic perch;
• several bars at the same or different levels located around the perimeter of the chicken coop. Such most comfortable design and allows the chickens to choose their own place where to settle down. Also, the bird will not stain each other with droppings, as is the case with a multi-level system;
• bars on vertical poles are perfect for medium-sized chicken coops;
• a perch in the form of a box is suitable for owners of a small number of birds. The advantage of this design is the possibility of its placement in any convenient place.

In the chicken coop, nests are required, which are most often placed parallel to one of the walls or in several rows above each other. The most important thing is that they should be located in a quiet part of the room and have a closed design, which will enable chickens to rush safely. It should be borne in mind that one nest can satisfy no more than 6 layers.

It is advisable to place bird nests at a certain height from the floor so that there are no drafts. Small ladders and perches in front of the entrance should be attached to them, on which the chicken can rest. It is important to equip the attack so that the bird does not fall and is not injured.

Acceptable height and optimal dimensions of the perch

One of the most important parameters of a quality perch is the height of its placement. The ideal design should be located at a height of at least 100 cm from the floor, but for heavy and large birds it is reduced to 80 cm. For young animals, a low design is also made from half a meter to 80 cm.

Very often, perches are fastened at different levels, which allows you to change the height of the perch at the right time without making structural changes to the chicken coop. Due to this height, chickens should be active, climbing a higher perch. At the same time, the bird trains its body, thereby strengthening health.

It is difficult to determine the ideal parameters for a chicken coop, because no two chicken coops are the same. It is generally accepted that the length the perch must match the width of the roomin which it is installed, and the wooden beam on which the chickens sit should be 40 by 40 mm in thickness.

In order for the bird to feel comfortable, the side parts of the timber from which the perch is constructed should be rounded off with a small radius. It should be borne in mind that 1 chicken takes up to 25 cm on the perch, and the distance between the levels of the bars should be at least 35 cm.

How to build a standard perch for chickens?

For the rational construction of a chicken perch, it is necessary to find out the main and secondary parameters that allow chickens to be placed on it as conveniently as possible. In this case, the optimal dimensions should correspond to the parameters of one bird, in accordance with which the height of the structure, the size of the bar and the distance between adjacent levels are calculated, if the perch is multi-level.

The construction of a standard design is a step-by-step process. First of all, you need to decide on the location of the perches – usually the warmest wall across from the window. Further, all work will occur in a certain order.

1. At a distance of 900 mm from the floor level for laying hens and 600 mm for meat birds, a 50 by 50 mm beam is fixed to which the crossbars will be attached.
2. The bar before installation must be carefully processed from burrs.
3. With the help of screws, the crossbars are attached to the bar with a step that depends on the parameters of the breed of chickens.
4. Manure collection trays are installed at a distance of 35 cm from the floor surface.
5. From the same bar that was used for perches, a ladder is made and positioned in such a way that the bird can freely climb onto the perches.

If the horizontal bar is placed at an angle, then the design will be multi-level. Similarly you can build a corner perch or a structure in the center of the chicken coop.

Perch in the form of a box

For the construction of a perch, resembling a box in shape, there is a certain sequence of work.

1. Take old unwanted boards and cut them to the right size.
2. Clean the boards with sandpaper so that the chickens do not get hurt.
3. The frame is constructed from a standard bar, which is processed by a planer.
4. The blanks are fastened with self-tapping screws in the shape of a square 400 by 400 mm.
5. You also need to make the side walls, bottom, ceiling and back.
6. Boards are stuffed in the front to create a 20 cm wide wall, thanks to which the bird will feel protected.
7. Dry straw is suitable as bedding.

After the done manipulations, it remains just to place the perches in their places. In this case, you must not forget from time to time to remove litter from the boxes.

Hygienic portable perch design

If the farm has an old table, you do not need to throw it in a landfill. From it you can independently build a comfortable and functional perch for chickens.

To do this, side strips made of planed boards with grooves made in it are stuffed onto the old table. Then deburred bars are inserted into the grooves, which will perform the function of perches. A mesh is fixed from below and sawdust is poured into the resulting container.

Most economical owners do not strive for special innovations and use what is at hand to build perches. And interestingly, it turns out relatively well.

Construction of a roost for laying hens

Perch for laying hens especially no different from the standard design, except for the dimensions:

• distance from the floor covering 900 mm;
• a bar with a section of 4 by 6 cm;
• space for one laying hen is at least 25 cm.

At the same time, the most important thing without which a laying hen can do is a nest, which is equipped as follows:

• in the calm part of the chicken coop, a wooden structure with dimensions of 200 by 300 mm is installed;
• in front of the box, an inlet with a threshold of up to 5 cm is equipped;
• hay spreads at the bottom.

Nests are located in a convenient place both above and below the perch. At the same time, as mentioned earlier, one nest can satisfy the needs of no more than 6 birds. Therefore, the number of nests should correspond to the number of birds that lay eggs.