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Chris : Hi, thanks to your web site I have built a new coop.

Richard : The lady in the last issue who had problems with her birds going to roost. I noticed that her perches were made of what looked to be 6"x 1" timber on end. Chickens do not perch they roost, the ideal size for a perch is 2" x 2" timber with bevelled edges. Problems with scaly leg can be treated with sunflower cooking oil or olive oil if you`re posh, use a bowl about 4" deep fill with oil, dip chickens legs in oil for a couple of seconds, repeat this daily for about a week, I have used this method for the last 40 years with 100% success.

Tanya : If you look at the size of a chicken's foot, a roost should be at least 2 inches in diameter, if not more, with rounded edges so it is more comfortable for them and easy to grip. Think of what a chicken would roost on in nature-- a tree branch, which is what I used in my coop. The bark on the branch makes it less slippery, too. (Although the bark on one of my roosts wore off, so I wrapped it with athletic tape to make it more "grippy") My chickens have no trouble adjusting their positions and walk back and forth with ease. Tanya in New York

PS The leaves as bedding is really as wonderful as they say! It's all I've ever used, and I clean my coop out once a year, more to get the compost than for any other reason, and people are amazed when they walk in to the coop and there's no smell, but about 10 inches to a foot of deep litter. If I do notice any smell, I just throw on another bag of leaves and it's gone.

Jocelyn : I read in your latest news letter that a fellow was having trouble with an aggressive rooster. You probably have already answered his question. But I read in that wonderful book written by Martin Gurdon, "Hen and the Art of Chicken Maintenance", that if you pick up the rooster and carry him around a bit, it seems to make an impression on him and he will stop attacking. Gurdon tried it and it worked. Although with one of his roosters he had to periodically keep reminding it. I haven't had to try it yet on my young rooster, but definitely will if he ever becomes aggressive. Thanks for a great informative newsletter! Jocelyn

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