Chick roosting on top of water and food jars!

[ZaneyMama]

My chicks are 10 days old and really excited about flying right now. One EE keeps flying up and perching on the water or food jars and then lowering her wings and almost rolling off. She looks so funny!

Is this normal? Should I get them a perch? I have them in a plastic tupperware container that's maybe 18 inches tall right now (with a window screen covering it).

How high off the ground should the perch be?

Thanks!
Sarah
Boulder, CO

 

[mommathea]

This is the start of Chick of the Castle! Yep~ Totally normal!

 

[LeghornLisa]

I went to my local grain store to purchase a wooden pole for a roost for my brooder when my peeps did the same thing. The man at the store laughed at me, and said they are too young for that....little did he know, as soon as I put the roost up they were all over it! It took a little practice but they loved it!! They spent extra time in the brooder because my coop was not ready, every time I took the screen off the top they would fly up to the edge of the box and onto the window! Get them a roost, they will love it!

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Yup mine did it to and what I did was tape another container - the red part to the top of the other to make it taller. That seemed to stop them. Or even take a thick paper and make a cone and tape that to the top. I have done both and they both worked

 

[Nascarwc88]

What type of roost do you all recommend? Will a 3/8, or 1/2" dowel rod work? Thanks.

 

[Garden Gal]

Sure, it will work just fine. I'd get the largest you think they can handle because they will quickly outgrow it!