how do we teach a baby chicken to roost?
- Thread starter rikku_03
- Start date
It may take a week or two just keep trying thats all I can tell you.
I put a dowel in the brooder box. Eventually one will get curious and get on it, and the rest will follow.
- Apr 15, 2009
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with one of our chickies, I used my fingers to teach him out to roost. I kept putting him on my finger and he'd perch on my finger. When I was done cuddling him, i'd gently place him on the perch in the brooder. Eventually he started getting up there on his own and the others followed. (they were always HIGHLY interested in me putting my little guy on the perch and what he'd do after that!) i think a lot of positive priase helped too!! (but I'm the 'crazy cat lady' too...)
- Thread starter
- #5
Interesting. Mine just starting hopping up to roost on the waterer as soon as they started getting real feathers!
When they went out to the big coop the guinea keets were first to figure out roosting and the chickens followed suit. (they were so cute, the chickens had to leap from the waterer to make it up to the roost the guineas could fly up to.)
My problem is now that they don't want to roost on the roost- they all want to roost on the metal wire ceiling of a crate that's confining the adult guineas.
When they went out to the big coop the guinea keets were first to figure out roosting and the chickens followed suit. (they were so cute, the chickens had to leap from the waterer to make it up to the roost the guineas could fly up to.)
My problem is now that they don't want to roost on the roost- they all want to roost on the metal wire ceiling of a crate that's confining the adult guineas.
Chickens have a natural instinct to go higher to roost. I didn't teach mine. They figured it out on their own. All that is necessary for you to do is provide them with appropriate roosts - right height, right diameter - and let nature take its course.
- Thread starter
- #8
Quote:
ok thank you
now I don't have to worry about it because I was thinking that if we don't teach them they won't roost but guess I was wrong
The only breed I've heard of that sometimes doesn't roost is silkies. I imagine it's a problem of them not being able to see well enough to jump up to a roost (because of all the fluff on their heads).
I have one little half blind hen that can't see to jump on the roost if she waits until it's too dark to go into the coop at night. She quickly learned to wait for me at the door of the coop and I put her on the roost.
ETA: Adult chickens prefer a 2 x 4 laid on its side as a roost. They don't grasp a roost all night like a caged bird does. They get settled and then release the grip with their feet. They rest on their keel bone.
ok thank you
The only breed I've heard of that sometimes doesn't roost is silkies. I imagine it's a problem of them not being able to see well enough to jump up to a roost (because of all the fluff on their heads).
I have one little half blind hen that can't see to jump on the roost if she waits until it's too dark to go into the coop at night. She quickly learned to wait for me at the door of the coop and I put her on the roost.
ETA: Adult chickens prefer a 2 x 4 laid on its side as a roost. They don't grasp a roost all night like a caged bird does. They get settled and then release the grip with their feet. They rest on their keel bone.
Last edited:
- Mar 29, 2009
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I'm a little slow and wet behind the ears
...so do you mean the 4" wide flat side is up? Or the skinny side is facing up?
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