how high for roosting poles?

[kdavis228]

How high should my first roosting pole b for my 2 month old chicks. And if there not using them is it a good idea to place them there so they will get used to them?

 

[LadyFunnyFarm]

While I know that they like to roost in the brooder, we don't have any in ours and when I integrated 8 into the big girl coop tonight, I placed them on the roost and had no problems. 1 jumped down, but I just picked her up and put her back and she stayed, no problem. My point is that, while I know they can roost, and probably like it, it's not entirely necessary. Chicken instincts seem to take over when necessary, lol.

Good luck with your babes!

 

[gritsar]

Roosting is instinctive behavior, so even if they don't have roosts in the brooder they'll know what they are for when they do get some in the coop. They may not use them the very first night, but they will figure it out.
You can do a foot off the ground for babies and go up from there. Yes, 8 week old chicks can go that high. I have 6 week old ones roosting with the adults, 4 1/2 ft. off the ground. Mama taught them.

Adut chickens like to go as high as possible to roost, but there has to be some reason on height. My younger flock are lighter weight birds, I let them roost 6 ft. off the ground if they want. They'll fly down.

My older flock is LF brahmas, big birds. I kept their roosts as low as possible so they wouldn't injure themselves jumping down (LF brahmas rarely fly). Still, one hen managed to sprain a leg jumping down off the roost.