Do chicks absolutely need a roost in the brooder?

[ksato003]

Is it necessary for chicks to have a roost in the brooder? At what age?

We’re moving our hens to an Eglu Cube coop when they get old enough (no convincing me out of the Eglu, we have limited space and it’s already shipped!), and there aren’t actual roosts in there, just an elevated roost area with barred flooring that’s supposed to “feel” like a roost.

Is there some health or behavioral reason chicks need to roost early on?

 

[CluckerFamily]

I put a little roost in the brooder around week 1. They play on it and around it during the day and then practice roosting at night. I haven’t had issues where my chickens won’t roost at night since they practiced roosting in the brooder (well except stubborn broody hens have to be placed on the roost)

 

[Poultry mum]

I don’t put a roost in my brooders some chickens like to roost and some are quite happy curling up… but my chickens are strange ….lol….

 

[CluckerFamily]

A roost in the brooder can be simple: 1”x1” piece of lumber will smaller cut pieces screwed into the ends so it doesn’t move, or even branches from the yard.

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

Is it necessary for chicks to have a roost in the brooder? At what age?

We’re moving our hens to an Eglu Cube coop when they get old enough (no convincing me out of the Eglu, we have limited space and it’s already shipped!), and there aren’t actual roosts in there, just an elevated roost area with barred flooring that’s supposed to “feel” like a roost.

Is there some health or behavioral reason chicks need to roost early on?

It's not absolutely necessary. As long as they have an elevated place if they want it in their coop once they grow out, they should be happy. Some breeds even tend to prefer the floor (Silkies and Cochins come to mind).

 

[Poultry mum]

It's not absolutely necessary. As long as they have an elevated place if they want it in their coop once they grow out, they should be happy. Some breeds even tend to prefer the floor (Silkies and Cochins come to mind).

I’ve got a Plymouth Rock and a isa who both like to “alternate“ between floor sleeping with the silkies and perched in there own house… all depends on their moods and weather…. Lol

 

[GC-Raptor]

I've put a branch in my first 3 batches of Chicks.

I did not with my current batch of chicks.

None of the 4 batches had any problems roosting when I put them in the coop.
My current batch of 8 chicks are up on the roosts at sunset when I check on them.
They will be 6 weeks old tomorrow.
Here they are at sunrise wake-up last Sunday.

Lower roost is only 18 inches high.
My hens have their own coop, so no integration issues.

GC

 

[3KillerBs]

It's not necessary, but the chicks seem to like it.

 

[K0k0shka]

Depends on your definition of necessary. Chickens can survive a lot, so roosting is not necessary for them to live, but simply surviving is a very low bar to set. If you look at chickens from an evolutionary standpoint, they need to roost high off the ground to stay safe from land predators. We take care of that for them by (ideally) keeping them in coops and runs that are safe from predators, so they don't need to roost to stay safe. However, the chickens themselves don't know that. They still have the inner need to roost. It's an instinct, and it's independent of the actual level of safety of their environment. All chickens have an instinctual need to roost. Some breeds, like silkies, often don't roost not because they don't have the need/instinct/desire to do so, but because humans have screwed up their ability to do so. Silkies don't have real feathers, so their wings are crippled and can't do their job - can't help them jump/fly up. Silkies know their own limits and often won't even try, opting for the floor instead. Other types of chickens may not roost for other reasons - broody, sick, injured, too heavy, etc. But the default for normal chickens is to want to roost.

Roosting is better for them for other reasons, too, besides satisfying an instinctual need. Chickens poop a lot at night, so roosting keeps their butts off the poopy floor and keeps their feathers clean. Feathers matted with poop can lead to other problems, like fly strike.

If at all possible, it would be great if you could give your chickens a roost - any roost, even if it's a branch just a few inches off the floor of the coop. They'll appreciate it. As for roosts in the brooder, I always provide a low roost (branch) right away, and they start hopping up onto it by day 2 after hatch. They love playing on it during the day. I give them higher and higher baby roosts as they grow, until they move out to the coop, where I have roosts at different levels so that all birds can find a place to sleep.

Your chicks and chickens can live without any roosts at all. But they would be happier if they had roosts. So it's up to you to decide which needs you do or don't want to meet.

 

[ksato003]

Depends on your definition of necessary. Chickens can survive a lot, so roosting is not necessary for them to live, but simply surviving is a very low bar to set. If you look at chickens from an evolutionary standpoint, they need to roost high off the ground to stay safe from land predators. We take care of that for them by (ideally) keeping them in coops and runs that are safe from predators, so they don't need to roost to stay safe. However, the chickens themselves don't know that. They still have the inner need to roost. It's an instinct, and it's independent of the actual level of safety of their environment. All chickens have an instinctual need to roost. Some breeds, like silkies, often don't roost not because they don't have the need/instinct/desire to do so, but because humans have screwed up their ability to do so. Silkies don't have real feathers, so their wings are crippled and can't do their job - can't help them jump/fly up. Silkies know their own limits and often won't even try, opting for the floor instead. Other types of chickens may not roost for other reasons - broody, sick, injured, too heavy, etc. But the default for normal chickens is to want to roost.

Roosting is better for them for other reasons, too, besides satisfying an instinctual need. Chickens poop a lot at night, so roosting keeps their butts off the poopy floor and keeps their feathers clean. Feathers matted with poop can lead to other problems, like fly strike.

If at all possible, it would be great if you could give your chickens a roost - any roost, even if it's a branch just a few inches off the floor of the coop. They'll appreciate it. As for roosts in the brooder, I always provide a low roost (branch) right away, and they start hopping up onto it by day 2 after hatch. They love playing on it during the day. I give them higher and higher baby roosts as they grow, until they move out to the coop, where I have roosts at different levels so that all birds can find a place to sleep.

Your chicks and chickens can live without any roosts at all. But they would be happier if they had roosts. So it's up to you to decide which needs you do or don't want to meet.

Love this, thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience with me!