How old before they get a roost?

[Nikkumz]

I have week olds and 4 day olds...I put a roost in there, all i had laying around was some bamboo sticks, it seemed too slippery so i wrapped it in some medical tape, the kind that is kind grippy on the outside but not sticky so they wont get stuck at all. They seem kind of interested but am i jumping the gun a bit, hsould i take it out and wait another week or so? One of them got on it but kept falling off. Its not up very high maybe like 6 or 7 inches off the bottom of the brooder but thats pretty far of a drop for a 3 or 4 inch tall chick

 

[Wildflower_VA]

I think you can leave it. They fall around a lot when they are learning to dust bathe and are doing "chicken yoga" but they don't get hurt. I put a two-by-four in my brooder and they immediately started to roost. I think it is instinctive, just as the many things chicks know to do without any help from a real mama hen.

 

[purelypoultry]

I would leave the roost. It will be one less thing you will have to train them to do when they get big enough for their "grown up" coop. They will play on it, use it as a "spring board" to jump off of, and eventually start taking naps on it. The usual recommended height is about 5", so you're not far off.

 

[dweej]

Oh yeah, leave it in! When they start realizing they can use it as a toy, they will crack you up with their antics

 

[TeamChaos]

It won't hurt anything to leave it in there. I usually know it's time for a roost when someone takes up residence on the feeder or waterer.