So,
@BY Bob , or anyone else who has knowledge regarding this:
Last night I read an article regarding Bumblefoot, and it said you shouldn't give chicks roosts until they are at least 4 weeks old, as it can damage their feet and predispose them to bumblefoot later.
I had always assumed (Yes, I know what 'ass-u-me-d' is sometimes restated as.) that it was good to give them things to jump up on (enrichment in general), and differing sized roosts for exercise/use of foot muscles.
Now I am not sure what to think. One would imagine that in the wild they go 'up' as soon as they are able, as it is safer for them, and that even before they can fly they are encountering sticks, logs, rock, etc. on the ground that they will step on/hop on. ??????
These are pictures of what I have in my current chicks' brooder. They have been in this brooder and had these things since they were 5 days old.
This is a roost made out of a 2X3 on it's flat side. They were using the 'steps' of the supports to hop up before they could fly. It is hard to tell, but I sanded the 'hard corners' off the top edges before making the roost with leftover scraps of wood.
View attachment 3256284
Sorry, best pic. I have of the branch. It is somewhat arched, so the majority of it is about an inch+ above the bedding. It doesn't have too rough of a bark, but it isn't perfectly smooth, either. Each of the 3 'legs' has a different size diameter...between that, the arching so raised, and the fact that it is very stable...
and I thought this was perfect for chicks.
View attachment 3256287
Then, of course, once they could 'hop-fly' and were pooping on top of the brooder plate, I added the cardboard box with shavings. Of course, they promptly started roosting at times on the edge of the cardboard...as the white chick is in this photo.
View attachment 3256285
For 'enrichment/healthy environment' they also have a dust bath and get a hunk of grass or weeds with soil embedded in the roots daily for their scratching/exploring pleasure. Initially the dust bath was a rugged but short cardboard box - you can see that in the second pic above, (which, again, they roosted on at times), now that they are bigger AND can fly, it is a decent sized round plastic planter pot that has the rolled edges, so is quite smooth. (and yes, they perch on that, too)
SO: are these perching/roosting things good, bad???? I'm not sure what to think. My adults do occasionally get bumble foot. I usually catch it early and it isn't a big deal...sometimes I don't catch it right away....but while I DO have some cases, I don't get a lot of them...roughly 2-4 cases a summer with all my adults. (they rarely get them in the winter as they aren't off exploring and getting into trouble when there is snow on the ground...they keep to the shoveled run and an area in the field around 2 shrubs that I also usually shovel) As a reference, I presently have 96 adults between chickens, ducks & geese with another 33 chicks. (Adults are counting my teens) And I have already processed 10 this year (mostly young ducks(drakes) but a few hens, too)
Please
