is this roost ok for chicks?

[Soleil_A]

Hello!

So i am planning on getting a couple chicks in april (is that a good time? i live in michigan.) and i am starting to get supplies. i went to the store and got a dowel, is this dowel rod to thick? this is my first time reading chick btw, so if you have any tips let me know! thanks!

 

[sourland]

I'm assuming that's for use in a brooder ? If so it will be fine.

 

[chickens really]

Chicks don't really Roost..They hop up during play. They sleep huddled on the bottom of the Brooder..I use 2X4s flat side up as Roosts for all my Birds..

 

[kwhites634]

If anything, I'd say your dowel is too small. It looks like it would accommodate juveniles just fine, but sag and/or snap under the weight of grown lf birds.
Sour said that he uses 2x4's, flat side up, for roosts. He knows what he's talking about. Birds do better if they can cover their feet in Winter, particularly in MI, and most roosts don't come with electric blankets. They rely on being able to keep their feet from frostbite by sitting on them; they can't do that on a dowel rod.

 

[chickens really]

If anything, I'd say your dowel is too small. It looks like it would accommodate juveniles just fine, but sag and/or snap under the weight of grown lf birds.
Sour said that he uses 2x4's, flat side up, for roosts. He knows what he's talking about. Birds do better if they can cover their feet in Winter, particularly in MI, and most roosts don't come with electric blankets. They rely on being able to keep their feet from frostbite by sitting on them; they can't do that on a dowel rod.

Wasn't sour who said that...lol..It was me, chickens really....

 

[Chelseyb123]

I used the samething for my chicks it worked fine.

 

[Chelseyb123]

my chicks did roost gave them something to do plus help teach how to use it and sometimes they'd use it at night. i cant remember what age they were when I put it in but id saw about 4wks. I also only had three chicks at the time. Clearly once they grow a bigger size will be needed. Also think about dust baths I put a container an filled it with some good dirt an they loved it. Very funny to watch.

 

[Chelseyb123]

Nope they were actually a week old when I put it in. I looked at the picture info on my phone.

 

[PrettyChickens15]

I have always used dowel rods for my chicks and they always seemed to work fine. I find that chicks tend to play on the roost during the day and sleep on the ground like Chickens Really said. I would put the roost pretty low to their container/brooder with another one a little higher up and further behind. Good luck!

 

[PrettyChickens15]

Chelseyb123, I love the idea about putting a dust bath place in the chicks area!!! I have never thought about that before. Will totally do it on my next batch of chicks.