Roosting bar?

[Littlebron123]

My chicks are 1 month old and I feel like it’s time to give them a roosting bar. Is it to young? What do I use? How high of the ground should it be? Should I put them on it?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Are they already out in the coop yet or is this for a brooder? If it's in the brooder then a stick a few inches off the ground should be fine. If it's the coop, I wouldn't bother doing a practice one,, you can just put them on the roost they'd be using as adults, though don't be surprised if they prefer to sleep on the floor for a while.

 

[Littlebron123]

They are still in the brooder and I placed them on roosting bar and they jumped off it right away.

Are they already out in the coop yet or is this for a brooder? If it's in the brooder then a stick a few inches off the ground should be fine. If it's the coop, I wouldn't bother doing a practice one,, you can just put them on the roost they'd be using as adults, though don't be surprised if they prefer to sleep on the floor for a while.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Have some patience. Don't try to force them, let them proceed at their own speed. They will be OK.

I don't know how high you put that bar or what it looks like, but at a month they are quite capable of flying up several feet to get to it if they want. Mine usually don't sleep on the bar in the brooder, but occasionally some will. Usually I move mine out of the brooder ant 5 weeks, they tend to not sleep on the roosting bars in the grow-out coop until they are 10 to 12 weeks old. Some do a lot earlier though. Some are even slower to use it at night.

Instead of sleeping on the bar in the brooder, mine like to perch during the day. It's sort of a way of them playing. Just make the bar available, when they are ready to use it they will. You do not need to set them on it. If they want to hop up there they will. And they will probably eventually want to.

 

[Littlebron123]

Have some patience. Don't try to force them, let them proceed at their own speed. They will be OK.

I don't know how high you put that bar or what it looks like, but at a month they are quite capable of flying up several feet to get to it if they want. Mine usually don't sleep on the bar in the brooder, but occasionally some will. Usually I move mine out of the brooder ant 5 weeks, they tend to not sleep on the roosting bars in the grow-out coop until they are 10 to 12 weeks old. Some do a lot earlier though. Some are even slower to use it at night.

Instead of sleeping on the bar in the brooder, mine like to perch during the day. It's sort of a way of them playing. Just make the bar available, when they are ready to use it they will. You do not need to set them on it. If they want to hop up there they will. And they will probably eventually want to.

Thank you. Are you good at guessing the sex of chickens?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Sometimes, it depends on the chick. There are others better than me.

Your chicks are just getting to the age where it might be doable. By five weeks a lot are starting to show their gender, though for some it might take four months or so. Some can be tough to figure out.

I suggest you start a new thread in the "What breed or Gender is This" section of this forum, with something in the title about sexing your chicks so you attract the people you want to see it. Take a close-up of the head so we can see the color and development of the comb and wattles, if any. A profile shot shot showing the legs, posture, and body conformation can really help. Mention breed and age of the chicks. We might be able to help.

 

[Littlebron123]

Sometimes, it depends on the chick. There are others better than me.

Your chicks are just getting to the age where it might be doable. By five weeks a lot are starting to show their gender, though for some it might take four months or so. Some can be tough to figure out.

I suggest you start a new thread in the "What breed or Gender is This" section of this forum, with something in the title about sexing your chicks so you attract the people you want to see it. Take a close-up of the head so we can see the color and development of the comb and wattles, if any. A profile shot shot showing the legs, posture, and body conformation can really help. Mention breed and age of the chicks. We might be able to help.

I just posted, can you take a look.
Thank you

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Are roosting bars important for chickens? I mean, I don't get it.... is it really necessary? I have a coop and have a high level off the ground area where they usually just go up there to sleep (no roosting bar). Or are roosting bar necessary for the development of their feet or something I'm missing out on? I do plan to add one soon, just because.... but was wondering why people make such a big deal out it?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Are roosting bars important for chickens? I mean, I don't get it.... is it really necessary? I have a coop and have a high level off the ground area where they usually just go up there to sleep (no roosting bar). Or are roosting bar necessary for the development of their feet or something I'm missing out on? I do plan to add one soon, just because.... but was wondering why people make such a big deal out it?

Their instinct is to get up in trees or something high, to protect themselves from ground bound predators while they sleep. So humans are catering to that instinct, probably because they don't want them sleeping in/soiling things like nest boxes (makes for easier coop cleanup as well, when all the poop lands in one general area). Are roosts absolutely necessary? No. A chicken will survive without it.