How old before you put the chicks on the roost at night?? UPDATE#11

[chickerdoodle]

OK, so I put them on the roost 2 nights in a row and tonight I went to do it and 2 of them were already on the roost!

So I only had to move the other 3 onto the roost and have my fingers crossed for tomorrow night!

 

[OrpingtonManor]

and, while I'm still putting mine on the roost at night, this morning, all of them were still on the roost!!

sounds like we're both making progress.

anyone else?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I never worry about when they decide to sleep on the roosts. Both my broods have slept in a pile on the floor until they are about 10 to 11 weeks old, then they decide on their own to sleep on the roosts. They keep the shavings stirred up enough that I seldom need to rake. They crowd as tightly together on the roosts as when they are sleeping on the floor. I just don't see the necessity to try to force them to roost before their instincts tell them they are ready to roost.

 

[Jeremy Parker]

Quote:
I don't agree with you on this, if you live in the north like I do the wide side is best if you winter over, as it encourages the chickens to sit on there feet when on the roost inturn keeping them warmer.

My chicks were sleeping on the roost at a month oldmy roost is 18" from the floor, and there were also a pile of them still on the floor. Security in numbers I think

Blessings,
Jeremy

 

[OrpingtonManor]

my worry about them sleeping on the floor, is that I will be on vacation. while I'm gone, my dad will only come over once a day to make sure everyone is okay. that means the pop door will not get locked closed at night, nor reopened in the morning. it will stay either open or closed. if I leave it open, then any predator that might slither or crawl in has complete access to the babies on the floor. if I leave the door closed, no one gets to leave the coop for over a week. it's a big enough coop for the numbers, but with everyone still getting used to each other, it would encourage more pecking than I would like.

 

[ibpboo]

I have a variety of sizes and heights of different roost spots in my pen.
6" long shelf, about 3 feet high. A 2x2" board, a tree branch, a ladder, and a 4" shelf about 8" long.
Recently the neighbor trimmed a tree and I'm going to look for a nice long thick branch for a roosting spot in my pen!

I also have 12 week old chickies that have been sleeping in the rafters in the stall, 12 foot high, for the past couple weeks. They are of the game chicken variety that are common roaming in our area. They do not like sleeping in the pen because it is not high enough. These types of chickens will be seen roosting high up in the oak trees!

 

[chickerdoodle]

Quote:
I don't agree with you on this, if you live in the north like I do the wide side is best if you winter over, as it encourages the chickens to sit on there feet when on the roost inturn keeping them warmer.

My chicks were sleeping on the roost at a month oldmy roost is 18" from the floor, and there were also a pile of them still on the floor. Security in numbers I think

Blessings,
Jeremy

It depends on their age and the temperature--if your area gets below freezing a wider roost is better for their toes. Otherwise you usually get wider roosts as they get bigger. Its like they graduate from pre-school to high school.

Of course you can be like ibpoo and have the luxury of various sizes for them to choose!