ROOSTING CHICKS

[t-dawg]

how do you get chicks to roost?

 

[greenthumb89]

usually they see another chicken do it or you can set them on the roost when you put them up for the night.

 

[SewingDiva]

Quote:
This is true. Ours did not roost in their coop until their flying skills were good enough to hoist themselves up onto the roost. And once the chick at the top of the pecking order did it, the other others followed her lead.

~Phyllis

 

[Kathy1]

My two girls are 6 1/2 weeks are they can fly up to the perch but they dont. They cuddle together in a nesting box. Will they perch at night soon?

 

[pkeeler]

This is the first time I've raised chicks. Right now, at 7 weeks in, I have 19 that roost and 7 that form a ball on the floor. Last week, only 14 were roosting. So I figure they get around to it. I've read that you can go in when they are sleeping and put them on the roost.

Around 3 weeks of age I put roosts in the brooder (branches nailed to pieces of 2x4). I never really saw any sleep on them, but some would perch. These perchers were the first ones to use the coop roosts for sleeping.

 

[sunnydee]

My six girls dont "roost" either. They are 5 weeks old. This is their 3rd night outside in their coop and they all jump on the "window sill" and pile on top of each other. This window is covered with that strong mesh screen. I am not sure if they just like the fresh air or what! Tonight I put a big heavy blanket on it cause it is raining hard and I was afraid they would get wet. Go figure..they have 3 available 2x4's at different levels and they have their "box" they were inside the house in with them incase they wanted that to adjust with.