Roosting too young??

[Perris]

On another thread, a poster indicated that one should not encourage roosting too young, that is can cause damage to the keel bone.


I have never heard this, and have always had broody hens get my chicks to roost fairly quickly, usually by 3-4 weeks, although it varies. I have always thought this was a good thing as it gets them up off the floor, and lets their poop fall away from them, keeping them cleaner, and they fit into the flock earlier. I do have multiple roosts, at different widths to allow for chicken choice.

So this surprised me, I had never heard of this information before. Anyone else, do you manipulate your brooding hen to keep them on the ground longer? If so how long. The original poster has theirs still on the ground at 8 weeks.

Mrs K

the poster thought they'd read it in Storey's guide but couldn't remember which one or find it online. I have the 4th edition of Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens, and p. 308 it says, talking of chick care, "when light breeds reach about 4 weeks of age and heavy breeds about 6 weeks, they're ready to roost on low perches. Don't provide roosts for broilers or they'll develop breast blisters and crooked keels. For others, night time roosting is a natural and healthy habit, and hopping on and off perches during the day is good entertainment, as well as good exercise...start the perches close to the floor and move them up as the majority of birds learn to use them."

Fwiw, I leave my birds to decide for themselves, and mine usually defer it for significantly longer than 6 weeks. For example, currently 11 week olds are still sleeping in nest-boxes (as they've grown, a brood of 5 has spilled over into the neighbouring box). They do not get dirty bums or feet because there are shavings in the nests, and I poo pick every morning to keep them clean and dry. They might have gone onto the roosts earlier were it not for the presence of adult males and females, but they live in natural family units here and the adults maintain a hierarchy. Juveniles are at the bottom of it.

 

[Cynthia12]

Roosting can cause keel damage on an adult chicken, Cynthia?

That's what it says.

 

[Cynthia12]

Roosting can cause keel damage on an adult chicken, Cynthia?

Chickens can experience keel bone damage while roosting due to a number of factors, including:

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• Perch height
  Roosts should be close enough to the ground to prevent injury from falls, as chickens can land heavily.
  
  
  
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• Perch design
  The design of the perch can affect the pressure on the chicken's keel bone and foot. For example, perfectly round roosts are not ideal for chickens.
  
  
  
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• Housing system
  The complexity of the environment, such as the number, type, and position of perches, can contribute to keel bone damage. Systems with multiple perch tiers and vertical spaces for flight are associated with higher incidences of keel bone fractures.
  
  
  
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• Other factors
  Other factors that can impact keel bone damage include nutrition, handling, and genetics.
  
  
  
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• Age
  Keel bone damage can occur throughout a chicken's life, but is most prevalent in hens between 49 and 58 weeks of age.
  
  
  
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• Deformity
  The degree of keel bone deformity can increase with age.
  
  
  
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Keel bone damage can cause pain and negatively affect a chicken's mobility and welfare.