At what age will a chick use the roost?

[roni0907]

Thank you so very much for all your advice everyone!! I truly appreciate it!

 

[theoldchick]

All of mine were roosting at 3 weeks of age. One started as early as 1 week and the stragglers were three weeks. Oddly, at night (it was still rather cool) the gang gathered on the floor of their brooder as one large group to keep warm.

On the other hand I purchased three JG's from a private breeder when they were 12 weeks. They refused to roost for a few weeks. They were unwilling to use the ramp the the top roost so I put a lower one in the corner. However, the chicks I raised were running up and down a wire ramp as youngsters, and had no difficulty navigating the wooden ramp to the roost when they were introduced to the coop. Oddly, as they matured they preferred the top of the nest boxes to roost at night.

 

[confusedturtle]

Mine lived in an xl dog crate until they were about 5 weeks old, inside of it we put a small roost that was about half the height of the crate. At first they were unsure of it but after a few days my roo experimented with it and the girls followed. We built the one in the coop to be about the height of the windows and they seem to love it, when I go out to check on them they are just looking at me thru the window. I built a small "sawhorse" style roost for the run but they dont seem to be very interested in it at all. When I had put a small planter in there they all loved it and would sit on it all the time. Mine all sleep on the roost or on the current nest box cover all huddled together

Maybe it is a little bit high for them, can you put a shorter temporary roost in there, once they get better at getting up there they will use the highest roost