Roosting

[danceingqueen11]

At what age would you say to let the baby chicks start roosting with the adults, mine just turned 3 months!

thanks

 

[callahanfarmgirl]

Along with the size of your chicks compared to your adults, it would depend on how much they have already socialized with the adults. I usually put my chicks in a dog crate inside the coop. It allows everyone to see each other but chicks are safe. Then I have let them free range in the yard with the adults. That gives them plenty of space to run for shelter, as they are faster than adults. I also am there to supervise. In my opinion if you work on socializing them then it shouldn't be long till you can allow them to roost together!!

 

[danceingqueen11]

Yeah, i have them in dog crates iv tried them being together but the adults peck them. i thinking to try to let them to roost together first, then let them out all together! also i had two brooding chickens at once, i have them in seperate cages at night then during the day i let them out together but they dont like each other very much, they stay very distance from each other. is that normal?

 

[callahanfarmgirl]

I would try putting the chicks on the roost at night and see how things go the next morning!! I also just had 2 broodies at the same time & both of mine separated themselves from the flock. They have both recently abandoned their chicks & I have been watching them try to attain their spot back in the pecking order. So I guess it is normal!! Luckily I have a 2nd small coop to keep my 7 abandoned chicks in. But I am planning on allowing them to free range with the rest of the flock a couple hours a day every other day or so just so they keep up the socialization. They would free range with the broodies & the flock tolerated them just fine but now that they have been abandoned I am actually in the same boat as you!! LOL But mine are 6 & 9 weeks so I am going to give it a few more weeks before I try to put them in the big coop to roost. Mine are also free range from dawn to dusk.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

One of my broodies has her three week old chicks up on the roost already! Another one likes to baby them a bit longer. Once they are weaned they are always at the bottom of the ladder so to speak, but roosting is the easy time because they all want to sleep and once they have a space of their own it settles down. The key is having enough room for them all to fit comfortably.

 

[danceingqueen11]

yeah, i think ill try it out!! thanks for all your help!!