Roosting Stick

[Mimejensen]

Need a bit of advice for my baby chicks. I currently have a Ecoglow20 heating plate that is in the brooder. They spend a lot of time under there keeping warm right now as they are appx 6 days old. Do I need to raise it up higher right now to put a roost under that heated area for them to sleep on? Right now it is in the middle of the brooder and they jump up and down from it sometime sitting for awhile when out eating and drinking.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Chicks that age normally don't roost at night. They sleep in a huddle on the floor.
I'd keep it so it is just above their backs. You can add a roost for them to use during the day but they will prefer to sleep in a pile under the brooder just like they would do with a mother hen.
It's usually 3 months or so (when they feather out enough) before they roost to sleep.

 

[Mimejensen]

Thank you. Yes they love running under the heat plate and sleeping together. Do you know at what age they start sleeping on a roost. Is it after 6 weeks when they can go out into the coop?

 

[Chickenaddition]

Once they are fully feathered which is around 6 weeks old. Sometimes a bit longer.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It varies from group to group and the height of the roost. Usually 2-3 months.

 

[rosemarythyme]

They roost when they're ready to. Some chickens do it sooner, some later. My last group of chicks roosted at 5 1/2 weeks, the previous group started going up voluntarily around 7 weeks or so.

 

[chickens really]

Human raised generally take longer to Roost . It depends though. I use 2X4s flat side up for Roosts.

 

[feathermaid]

Chicks are fine being exposed to cooler air, it helps them acclimate. I used a MHP for my 3 chicks, they were in the house for almost 2 weeks before my coop brooder was ready and they went outside. The spent a lot of time just hanging out on top.

They were fully feathered and roosting up with my older hens by 5 weeks old and no longer using the heating pad at all.

Depending on your outside temps, their time staying with heat may vary. And without someone to "show them the ropes" it may take a little longer to learn how to roost, but since they already have access to a perch, I'm sure they'll figure it out a lot sooner than chicks that were never given the opportunity.

 

[chickens really]

It's cold here and I have Broody raised Chicks outside in my garage Brooder. Only heated over the feed and water and the Chicks are not even a week old but Run all around the Brooder. Was -28C this morning.

 

[feathermaid]

It's cold here and I have Broody raised Chicks outside in my garage Brooder. Only heated over the feed and water and the Chicks are not even a week old but Run all around the Brooder. Was -28C this morning.

Wow that is REALLY cold!! I knew it could be done though... have you seen this thread?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/2-questions-about-chicks.1291889/