getting new chickens to use Roost???

[jhammett]

I built a roost for my chicks ysterday. They are 5 weeks old and have been in there outside coop for a week. The first week i left the brooder in the coop and they would sleep in it. After a few days I took the top off the brooder to help them adjust to the temperatures. Finally I removed the brooder and installed a roost. This morniong when I went out to do coop chores the chicks were all grouped up on the floor under the roost where the brooder had been. Looking at the roost as to say "what is that?" I put a couple up on the roost and they looked at me as if to say " what are you doing?" LOL.

How do I get them to use the roost? I did hang heat lamps above the roost thinking that they would get up there to get by the heat last night no luck.

 

[Crazy Chick]

Isn't that a little too early to put them outside? It should be 9-10 weeks. My 9 week old chicks started using a roost when they saw one of my grown hens do it.

 

[jhammett]

Isn't that a little too early to put them outside? It should be 9-10 weeks. My 9 week old chicks started using a roost when they saw one of my grown hens do it.

I am not sure if its to early. I have read such a variance of ideas on when to put them outside. They are not totally outside they are contained in their coop ( a stall in my barn ) which is predator proof and free of drafts.I havent let them out on the run yet.

They have been out there for a week and a half and are growing big and doing fine so far. it got down to 13 degrees a couple nights ago and there water has frozen a couple times( i check it every 4 or 5 hours). they all made it through and are very active and eating and drinking well. I have 2 250 watt red heat lamps in there and until last night had the brooder in there as well ,it has a 60 watt bulb and a heating element in it. Problem was that they were outgrowing the brooder it is one of those metal ones like 3' X 4' and about 14" tall. it is rated to hold 100 chicks for 2 weeks. 20 chicks madeit 4 weeks but that was it they needed room.

 

[wsmith]

I am not sure if its to early. I have read such a variance of ideas on when to put them outside. They are not totally outside they are contained in their coop ( a stall in my barn ) which is predator proof and free of drafts.I havent let them out on the run yet.

They have been out there for a week and a half and are growing big and doing fine so far. it got down to 13 degrees a couple nights ago and there water has frozen a couple times( i check it every 4 or 5 hours). they all made it through and are very active and eating and drinking well. I have 2 250 watt red heat lamps in there and until last night had the brooder in there as well ,it has a 60 watt bulb and a heating element in it. Problem was that they were outgrowing the brooder it is one of those metal ones like 3' X 4' and about 14" tall. it is rated to hold 100 chicks for 2 weeks. 20 chicks madeit 4 weeks but that was it they needed room.

Chicks are fine without heat lamps once they are fully feathered. They will start using the roost when they can get to it, and as they mature. Once one starts, the others soon follow. Having an adult bird to show them what to do really. helps. As they get older, you can wait until after dark and place them on the roost, then they wake up there. How high is the roost? can they fly up to it, or do they have to go up some sort of ramp to get to it?

 

[Crazy Chick]

Ok... I thought you meant 'outside' like OUTSIDE.

 

[jhammett]

I was not sure how to "build" the roost. I had a frame I had made for a table in my workshop that i ended up not needing, soi leaned it against the wall. it is 4X8 originally designed to fit a sheet of plywood. the studs are on 16" centers. when I leaned it against the wall the bottom touches the ground 4 feet from the wall. so Not Knowing how to do math LOL i would assume that the height is around 5 and 1/2 feet at the highest point.

 

[benwantegg]

What worked for me is that every night (for a week or so) i went into the coop and i put them physically on their roosting bar. After a couple of night they were doing it on their own...Mine were about 15-16 weeks old when i did that so i dont know yours are big/physically develop enough to reach by flying the roosting bar...

Hope it helped!

 

[Crazy Chick]

Can you post a pic?

 

[wsmith]

I was not sure how to "build" the roost. I had a frame I had made for a table in my workshop that i ended up not needing, soi leaned it against the wall. it is 4X8 originally designed to fit a sheet of plywood. the studs are on 16" centers. when I leaned it against the wall the bottom touches the ground 4 feet from the wall. so Not Knowing how to do math LOL i would assume that the height is around 5 and 1/2 feet at the highest point.

OK. They will start to fly up and "play" on it during the day, and then start using it as they mature and are able. 16" is a little high for chicks that young, but they will get curious and start using it when they are ready. No worries.

My chicks usually start to fly up onto low "roosts" when a couple of weeks old, but don't usually start to fly up to a roost per se until they are about 6-8 weeks old. My brooding and growout houses have roosts that are from 12" to 18" high, and the growout pens have roosting platforms that are about 3 ftt off the ground. I will usually put a board in the houses and brooders for them to use as a ramp. Keeps them busy and teaches them in the process.

 

[wsmith]

My chicks usually start to fly up onto low "roosts" when a couple of weeks old, but don't usually start to fly up to a roost per se until they are about 6-8 weeks old.

By "low" (when talking about very young chicks), I mean up to 4 inches. They love to go up and down, and do a "king of the roost" game when they are little. Very entertaining to watch.