Chelseyb123
Songster
Welcome I watched a video on Youtube or something of someone doing it. The chicks really like it. And it gives them something to do
is this roost ok for chicks?
- Thread starter Soleil_A
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In a brooder that will be fine, just like Sour said. it is extremely unlikely they will stay in the brooder long enough for that to be too small.
Since you are just starting I'll go through this. Perching is when they hop up on something during the day. Some people call it play but they just seem to like to hop up on high things and just sit there. They do that all through their lives. I've seen fully grown chickens perch on a 3/8" thick piece of plywood set on edge. They will hop up on a four feet wide shelter and perch up there. A lot of people don't use perches in the brooder and the chickens turn out fine, but a lot of people do. Like a lot of tings to do with chickens providing a perch is not something you have to do but a lot of people do.
Roosting is when they hop up on something to spend the night. Some people really get hung up on what this has to be but I've had grown chickens sleep on tree limbs of widely different diameters, 2x4's flat, 2x4's on edge, and some sleep on a 4' wide flat coop roof. From what I've seen people worry a lot more about this than the chickens. I've seen a broody hen take her chicks to the roosts to sleep at night as early as two weeks, though that is pretty rare that early. I've had brooder raised chicks start roosting at night as early as five weeks, though 10 to 12 weeks is more normal. I've had some take a lot longer than 12 weeks to start roosting. If you do this very long you'll find that each brood is different. They are not consistent in when they do any of these things. If yours do not conform to what someone says they have to be doing, don't worry. They are just being themselves. Don't fret the small stuff.
There is a lot about what you plan to do that I don't know. Some of us brood out-of-doors in the coop or some other place in the dead of winter. The big challenge with that is the changing temperatures. I can go from single digits Fahrenheit to 70 degrees in a couple of days, you have to take that into account when setting up the brooder. If you brood in the house or some climate controlled area you don't have to worry about that nearly as much. Regardless, in Michigan that time of the year yours should be able to go outside by 5 weeks of age if not sooner. By that age they will be able to handle your outside temperatures without any supplemental heat. April sounds like a pretty stress free time of the year for you.
You mention you plan only two. I'd suggest a minimum of three. Chickens are social animals and really do better with other chickens around. The odds are your chicks are going to do just fine, but any time you deal with living animals you have to face the possibility you will have to deal with a dead animal. That's true for cats, dogs, and goldfish as well as chicks. If you get three and something does happen to one of them the others still have company. Three are not all that much harder or more expensive than two, I'd consider getting three as insurance.
Since you are just starting I'll go through this. Perching is when they hop up on something during the day. Some people call it play but they just seem to like to hop up on high things and just sit there. They do that all through their lives. I've seen fully grown chickens perch on a 3/8" thick piece of plywood set on edge. They will hop up on a four feet wide shelter and perch up there. A lot of people don't use perches in the brooder and the chickens turn out fine, but a lot of people do. Like a lot of tings to do with chickens providing a perch is not something you have to do but a lot of people do.
Roosting is when they hop up on something to spend the night. Some people really get hung up on what this has to be but I've had grown chickens sleep on tree limbs of widely different diameters, 2x4's flat, 2x4's on edge, and some sleep on a 4' wide flat coop roof. From what I've seen people worry a lot more about this than the chickens. I've seen a broody hen take her chicks to the roosts to sleep at night as early as two weeks, though that is pretty rare that early. I've had brooder raised chicks start roosting at night as early as five weeks, though 10 to 12 weeks is more normal. I've had some take a lot longer than 12 weeks to start roosting. If you do this very long you'll find that each brood is different. They are not consistent in when they do any of these things. If yours do not conform to what someone says they have to be doing, don't worry. They are just being themselves. Don't fret the small stuff.
There is a lot about what you plan to do that I don't know. Some of us brood out-of-doors in the coop or some other place in the dead of winter. The big challenge with that is the changing temperatures. I can go from single digits Fahrenheit to 70 degrees in a couple of days, you have to take that into account when setting up the brooder. If you brood in the house or some climate controlled area you don't have to worry about that nearly as much. Regardless, in Michigan that time of the year yours should be able to go outside by 5 weeks of age if not sooner. By that age they will be able to handle your outside temperatures without any supplemental heat. April sounds like a pretty stress free time of the year for you.
You mention you plan only two. I'd suggest a minimum of three. Chickens are social animals and really do better with other chickens around. The odds are your chicks are going to do just fine, but any time you deal with living animals you have to face the possibility you will have to deal with a dead animal. That's true for cats, dogs, and goldfish as well as chicks. If you get three and something does happen to one of them the others still have company. Three are not all that much harder or more expensive than two, I'd consider getting three as insurance.
x2! Three is the minimum number IMO.
I use saplings or tree branches, bark on. Just like wild birds would use, free, and they come in all sizes.
Mary
I use saplings or tree branches, bark on. Just like wild birds would use, free, and they come in all sizes.
Mary
TheFluffyButt
Chirping
- Jul 5, 2016
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Whenever I have chicks, I'm always sure to give them outside time in the dirt with some sunshine so they can see the wide world and grow some ambitions.
I don't know about the ambitions part, but they love it!
They run around, jump on everything and freak themselves out with all the bugs and other small animals they find.
If you're interested in doing that, you should always be by their side to make sure no birds or other animals find a snack from your beloved fluff balls.
As for the roosting stick, that size is fine as the little babies will sleep on the ground together and play on the roosting sticks. (Just as everyone else has said)
A note for the future, when your chicks grow into gorgeous hens, you'll need to find sturdy sticks that are half round on the top and about 2 inches along as the hens don't like to curl their feet around the stick to sleep. Their natural stance to ensure balance is to have their feet on a slightly curved surface so that the they can comfortably roost without being knocked off my another hen when she makes slight movement.
Another thing to keep in mind is that some sticks might have splints or odd edges, so always sand down the stick that you decide on before installing it. The height of the stick can be anywhere from 1 foot off the ground to 1 meter, some people have it higher, but it's all variable to how high the ceiling is as well.
I tend to use tree branches for my chickens, they haven't complained so far!
Also, I almost forgot, pecking order is a real thing. If you want to avoid having your flock fighting over spots, have your roosting sticks all at the same height, boom, no more fighting before bed, more loving flock.
I don't know about the ambitions part, but they love it!
They run around, jump on everything and freak themselves out with all the bugs and other small animals they find.
If you're interested in doing that, you should always be by their side to make sure no birds or other animals find a snack from your beloved fluff balls.
As for the roosting stick, that size is fine as the little babies will sleep on the ground together and play on the roosting sticks. (Just as everyone else has said)
A note for the future, when your chicks grow into gorgeous hens, you'll need to find sturdy sticks that are half round on the top and about 2 inches along as the hens don't like to curl their feet around the stick to sleep. Their natural stance to ensure balance is to have their feet on a slightly curved surface so that the they can comfortably roost without being knocked off my another hen when she makes slight movement.
Another thing to keep in mind is that some sticks might have splints or odd edges, so always sand down the stick that you decide on before installing it. The height of the stick can be anywhere from 1 foot off the ground to 1 meter, some people have it higher, but it's all variable to how high the ceiling is as well.
I tend to use tree branches for my chickens, they haven't complained so far!
Also, I almost forgot, pecking order is a real thing. If you want to avoid having your flock fighting over spots, have your roosting sticks all at the same height, boom, no more fighting before bed, more loving flock.
Don't forget that your 'chicks' will likely use this 'roost, as a stairway to heaven and may quickly learn to use it to "FLY" their coop. Just a word (or in this case 26 words) to the wise.
Chickens like all birds utilize tenodesis when they are perching/roosting. This enables them to sleep without thought to "gripping" the surface they are on with their toes to "maintain their balance". It makes sense to give them a wide perch, especially in freezing temps, and it also makes sense to not give them a super skinny perch. Thought also must go into the material used for the perch. Never use metal! Wood is much preferred b/c it is a better insulator.
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Soleil_A
Songster
thank you all for your responses! i was also planning on using sand as bedding, should that be ok?
I'm not a fan of sand but some folks like it.
Chelseyb123
Songster
You could use wood chips or shavings. I used it an did a little bit of the deep litter method when I switch them to a tote. I only Had three chicks at the time. An pine from my Christmas tree help keep the poop smell down when id mix it in. I don't know anything about using sand. You could also look up other natural litter for them. I watched a video of a brooder that had leaves wood chips and straw. It looked very natural also gives them something to starch at.
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