At what age will a chick use the roost?

[roni0907]

I am a newbie, and my 5-6 week old chicks have now spent two nights inside their coop outside. We have to pick them up and put them up in there, but once inside, they seem to settle in for the night just fine. In the morning when I get up, I notice they are already outside in their run, so hopefully they are staying all night inside their house. It is fully contained within the run. My question is around the roost. They are sleeping all cuddled up in the corner of their house, instead of up on their roost. Do you think they just do not know it is there? Should I physically put them up onto it and see if they stay there? Or is it something they will do on their own in their own time? Thank you in advance for your help!!

 

[KIDDSBANTAMS]

All my babies use the roost their first week of life. I built them a mini roost in ery cutetheir brooder and they always hop right up there, very cute.

 

[CupOJoe42]

My Quail D'Anver chicks were starting to fly at 3 days old. I put pieces of wood in the brooder and they also hopped on top of the EcoGlow.
I think it depends on the chick and the height of the roost. They are 4 weeks old now and fly around like little helicopters. They like the highest place to roost, or my shoulder.

They also play a little game of who can knock who off the roost. It's so funny to watch!

 

[Lucysmom002]

I have some that are almost 4 months old that do the same thing. They huddle together on the floor. All the others use the roost. I've seen a couple of them try to get up there and I've put them up there but the jump down. They are heavy and awkward. 2 large RIR's, one black cochin and a buff brahma are the ones.. the other's roost.

 

[CupOJoe42]

Can you put a little ramp or ladder up to the roost??? Maybe once they get comfortable being up there, you can remove it?

 

[ErikaSmit]

Our little sebrights used it first but once my New Hamshire Red "Roasty" got a boost a couple times she was hooked. They sit up there and stare out the window

 

[BoltonChicken]

Believe me, they will roost when they get ready to roost.

 

[roni0907]

I felt so bad this morning....last night DH put the 5 of them onto their roost, but only 3 were out and about this morning. I heard the other two screaming inside. Turns out they were too scared to jump down off of the roost and therefore were "stuck" up there. I helped them down and all is well. I just wonder if it is too high for them, and if we should have built one closer to the ground to use until they were bigger....how high can babies jump??

 

[Fred's Hens]

I don't force this issue. I put a little 3" high practice roost in the brooder. Most of them love it during the day, but don't sleep there. Later, in the grow out pen, I put a landscape timber on to cement blocks, which is what? 18" high, maybe? They jump right up there. Later, once in the layer's pen, they have no issue using the multi level roost. They do ALL this on their own. My only job is to provide them with age appropriate furniture during their grow out years. I never force or put any chick or chicken on a roost. They have instincts and they'll do what they want, when they need to or want to.

 

[ninabeast]

Mine were on their 4' roosts right away, at 6 weeks. It did take the Light Brahmas a little longer, though. I guess cuz they ain't so light!