How high do babies fly

[Joey G]

Hello everyone. First time chicken owner and almost have my coop finished. My lowest roost bar is 32" off the floor. The question is, when I put my pullets in there, probably around 6 weeks old, will they be able to jump/fly up that high at that age? Should I add bars lower to help get up there? Also, my coop is about 20" off the ground and was thinking about putting my pvc pipe feeder under it to keep the rain off the feed. Are there any reasons I should not put the feeder under there? The type of chickens I will have are red and black sex links, barred rocks, and golden laced wyandotte.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’ve seen two week old chicks fly two feet vertical and three feet horizontal when Mama first took them to the roosts. They launched to the roosts from the top of my nests, which were about two feet high to start with. Mama said come here and they did. It was obvious watching them that they could have gone much further if Mama wanted them to.

I have had brooder raised chicks take to the roosts at night as young as five weeks but 10 to 12 weeks is more normal. I’m talking about sleeping up there, they may play on the roosts during the day much earlier. For your breeds 32” is nothing as long as they have enough room to spread their wings and fly.

Many people with elevated coops like that feed under them to help keep the feed dry. Just remember that rain blows in from the side when you position it.

 

[Joey G]

I’ve seen two week old chicks fly two feet vertical and three feet horizontal when Mama first took them to the roosts. They launched to the roosts from the top of my nests, which were about two feet high to start with. Mama said come here and they did. It was obvious watching them that they could have gone much further if Mama wanted them to.

I have had brooder raised chicks take to the roosts at night as young as five weeks but 10 to 12 weeks is more normal. I’m talking about sleeping up there, they may play on the roosts during the day much earlier. For your breeds 32” is nothing as long as they have enough room to spread their wings and fly.

Many people with elevated coops like that feed under them to help keep the feed dry. Just remember that rain blows in from the side when you position it.

 

[Joey G]

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Jensownzoo]

Just to reaffirm, my chicks were flying out of a 3' brooder at 6 weeks and clearing the sides easily.

 

[Joey G]

Just to reaffirm, my chicks were flying out of a 3' brooder at 6 weeks and clearing the sides easily.

Thanks for the input.

 

[RooBeeC]

Just to reaffirm, my chicks were flying out of a 3' brooder at 6 weeks and clearing the sides easily.

Uh oh.... I'll need to make sure I keep thing covered soon.