3 1/2 week old chicks roosting

[Mrs. K]

Two nights ago, when I went down to lock up the girls, I noticed that my broody hen had moved her chicks out of the nest where she had been laying on the floor. So on a whim, I ran a flat 2x8 from the nest to the 2nd lowest rung of the roosts about 18 inches off the floor.

Tonight when I went down there, the broody hen has them all up off the floor, on the board, roostting! In the past, I have noticed that broody hens seem to get nervous or uncomfortable roosting on the floor after a couple of weeks. She looked happy tonight, and the chicks seemed comfortable.

Mrs K

 

[RWise]

My best broody takes hers to the roost at 2 weeks, not the low rungs, but all the way to the top! Another just abandons them at 2 weeks,,,,

 

[Den in Penn]

My broody has been trying to get her singleton up on the roost at night for a week or so. It goes up no problem during the day. When she had more in a previous clutch she got them up sooner. Funny how more chicks seems to make it easier for her to teach them new things. Might be I should put a low perch in too.