idea help how can i rig a roost in up for chicks

[chickenreyna]

They are in a water trough ive tried everything any ideas to anchor one up where it will not keep falling down. .heres photo of what they are in to help

 

[PirateGirl]

You could probably rig up something like this pretty easily. It only has to be a little bit above the ground.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/SummerH...gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CJ_asYPb6dgCFcmjswodFgMOXw

Also, your birds look big enough/feathered enough to move out of the house if they have a coop ready for them!

 

[debid]

You just need a freestanding roost. Two wide triangles cut from some scrap lumber, drill a couple holes big enough for a dowel to fit through snugly (stack your triangles and drill both so the holes will be level). Put a little wood glue on the dowel ends and assemble. You just need to be sure the triangles are fatter than they are tall so the structure won't be tippy.

The one above would work, too, but they'll roost on the sides and it will get messy fast.

FWIW, I concur on moving them to the coop if it's ready. They'll enjoy the room and more things to explore.

 

[Latestarter]

Or maybe even simpler than that... put a brick/block at either end and rest a length of 2x4 on top of them. High enough for them to get under, low enough for them to jump up on.

Never mind that low enough comment... From the looks of the bird sitting on the side of the trough, and the chicken wire in the background, you already are having issues keeping them in the trough. The bird appears fully feathered and as such can really start being acclimated to the/a coop. They also shouldn't need that heat lamp anymore either.

I'd kill the light first then start bringing them outside during the days for longer periods to get them used to the cold, then get them out of the house into their own living quarters... JMHO

 

[chickenreyna]

You just need a freestanding roost. Two wide triangles cut from some scrap lumber, drill a couple holes big enough for a dowel to fit through snugly (stack your triangles and drill both so the holes will be level). Put a little wood glue on the dowel ends and assemble. You just need to be sure the triangles are fatter than they are tall so the structure won't be tippy.

The one above would work, too, but they'll roost on the sides and it will get messy fast.

FWIW, I concur on moving them to the coop if it's ready. They'll enjoy the room and more things to explore.

It has just been getting beloe freezing so ive delayed, one i purchased from tss type store the two days after black friday and the others were purchased on 12/9 only one is balanced enough really roosting on edge.. The oldest

 

[chickenreyna]

Or maybe even simpler than that... put a brick/block at either end and rest a length of 2x4 on top of them. High enough for them to get under, low enough for them to jump up on.

Never mind that low enough comment... From the looks of the bird sitting on the side of the trough, and the chicken wire in the background, you already are having issues keeping them in the trough. The bird appears fully feathered and as such can really start being acclimated to the/a coop. They also shouldn't need that heat lamp anymore either.

I'd kill the light first then start bringing them outside during the days for longer periods to get them used to the cold, then get them out of the house into their own living quarters... JMHO

I do kill the light and they shiver all huddled up in corner after a few hours!! and i keep my heat 72 73 inside draft free room

 

[chickenreyna]

I know ive read after its time to take off light but they start shivering so i turn it back on after a few hours lol. I have it up really high where they can escape it its only in one corner but when they start shivering i feel bad and turn it back on for them maybe im being an enabler. ..your thoughts on this??

 

[debid]

I think you're very likely misreading their behavior. Sleeping in a social group on the ground is a normal behavior until they move to the roost. Using a light often overheats the space so they'll sleep scattered because they are too warm to cuddle. That's a normal response to hot weather but it doesn't mean they're cold when they sleep in a raft.

I brooded my current batch of pullets (almost hens now!) in an outdoor brooder when it was well below freezing at night. They moved to the roost, abandoning their heating pad hen, at 5 weeks on the nose. A few of them were ready sooner and went to the roost at sunset but then rejoined their flock on the floor when they didn't follow. The first night they all went up, that was it. It was, I think, in the 50s that first night and I left the heating pad hen because it was going to be much colder the next night but they went to roost in the 30s the same as they had the night before.