Roosting

[Zoethedog]

At what age do chickens start to roost? My almost 7 week olds still cluster in a corner on the ground together even though there are roosts available.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Varies wildly. Chicks raised by a mama hen can roost as early as 2-3 weeks. Chicks that don't have adults to show them what to do will take a lot longer. You can wait for them to figure it out on their own, or you can manually move them onto the roost each night until they figure it out.

 

[Zoethedog]

Varies wildly. Chicks raised by a mama hen can roost as early as 2-3 weeks. Chicks that don't have adults to show them what to do will take a lot longer. You can wait for them to figure it out on their own, or you can manually move them onto the roost each night until they figure it out.

 

[Zoethedog]

Thanks. I guess I will let them figure it out.

 

[SnootyHen]

Mine are the same age as yours. They will roost during the day sometimes for a little rest but at night they huddle together in a chick pile. A few of them took to roosting faster than others, too. Now they will all jump up there but none of them do it at night yet. I'm thinking once they are moved into their "big girl coop" they will get the hang of it (I hope).

 

[Newbie_Chicken_Lady]

I have almost 6 week old chicks and I have put a stick in the brooder and they seem to like it. Occasionally they sleep on the shavings still. They do not have a mom and the only reason they are still temporarily in the brooder is because it is still cold out in Maryland.

 

[HyperCello]

At what age do chickens start to roost? My almost 7 week olds still cluster in a corner on the ground together even though there are roosts available.

When did you put a roosting bar in? I put one in with my chicks at 3 weeks, and they checked it out/started using it (but not using it at night). They are in the coop full-time now and use the bar every night. Might just take them some time to figure it out.

 

[Zoethedog]

I have almost 6 week old chicks and I have put a stick in the brooder and they seem to like it. Occasionally they sleep on the shavings still. They do not have a mom and the only reason they are still temporarily in the brooder is because it is still cold out in Maryland.

I am in Ontario and we finally warned up enough that I could remove the heat lamp at night!

 

[Zoethedog]

When did you put a roosting bar in? I put one in with my chicks at 3 weeks, and they checked it out/started using it (but not using it at night). They are in the coop full-time now and use the bar every night. Might just take them some time to figure it out.

The roosts have always been there. I got them from Frey's as 5-6 week started birds. I have had them for 2 weeks now.