The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: northfifeduckling on January 05, 2011, 10:08:33 am

Title: how to secure perches??
Post by: northfifeduckling on January 05, 2011, 10:08:33 am

My choks are knocking off the perches 3 times a day and I wondered if I could stick them into the gaps with the help of blu tack or chewing gum. Then I wondered if it's dangerous if the eat the stuff as they seem to eat everything! Or does anyone have a better idea? I still need to be able to take them out for cleaning purposes, so wood glue is not an option!  :chook: :&>

Title: Re: how to secure perches??
Post by: sam.t on January 05, 2011, 10:58:45 am

ours are screwed into plaace removable for cleaning
sam :chook: :goat:

Title: Re: how to secure perches??
Post by: egglady on January 05, 2011, 12:12:50 pm

ours are screwed in as well.  but we dont remove them for cleaning - just clean them where they are

Title: Re: how to secure perches??
Post by: Fleecewife on January 05, 2011, 12:45:42 pm

Ours are removable but not screwed in. Being wooden huts (garden shed type) they had to be modified anyway so when we added the perches we screwed  'patches' of 1" thick planking onto the wall at each end.  With a notch the shape of the cross-section of the perch cut into the top of these, the perch itself slots in very easily and comes out every time we take the flame gun to the ends to make sure no red mites have sneaked in. If I haven't explained very well I can go and take a photo if you wish.

Title: Re: how to secure perches??
Post by: OhLaLa on January 05, 2011, 01:49:51 pm

Tighten the joints either side where the perch slides in with pieces of wood cut for the job and glued and screwed in, or screw in your perches so you can unscrew when you do your mite treatments.

 :chook:

Title: Re: how to secure perches??
Post by: jacob and Georgina on January 05, 2011, 05:55:10 pm

u could make U shape brackets with wood so the perches slot in via the top, so can be lifted out when needed but not knocked off!!!

Title: Re: how to secure perches??
Post by: robert waddell on January 05, 2011, 06:09:49 pm

from memory when my mother hatched and reared chicks to hens the perches were slotted into boards as described by fleecewife never moved

Title: Re: how to secure perches??
Post by: cooper956 on January 05, 2011, 07:28:53 pm

iv made sone 4" x4" 1" thick pices with the u shape out of them if tight enough have no problems but in one hut thay where comeing out due to me makeing them too big so i have put a small bit of wood problt 2" long 1/2" wied over the top of the ends fixed with a screw at one side but lfet just lose enough to swivle out the way for removel did have the perchs screwed in but was fed up with forgeting screwdriver when cleaning out  ;D

(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u228/cooper956/perch.jpg)

Title: Re: how to secure perches??
Post by: jacob and Georgina on January 05, 2011, 08:39:37 pm

this is exactly what i meant just couldnt draw it quite so well!! like the addition of the swivle bit to hold them down

Title: Re: how to secure perches??
Post by: northfifeduckling on January 05, 2011, 09:05:51 pm

trouble is that ours are "fitted" on a diagonal slope and I can only access them through the flap. Maybe a wedge would do on either side...
I'm impressed at your arty skills and expertise  ;D :&> :chook: