Too young for roosting?

[Ais]

Hello everyone,
New to this forum and new to chicken raising. I got 3 6 week old pullets last week. They are in an Eglu Go coop with a 6ft x 9ft WIR. Someone told me that I should not be allowing them to use the roosting tray until they are 16 weeks old, or their keel bones will deform. I see a lot online saying to have them roosting as early as possible. Which is it? I included a picture of the Go roosting tray - they don't have to fly up or jump down...
Thank you for any advice!

 

[sourland]

Roosting does not cause deformed keel bones.

 

[hugene]

I’m also curious. I have an eglu cube which has the same roosting size. Tried to put my 3-4 week old pullet to get them used to it, but it seems like they need to grow a bit bigger before being comfortable in there. I did have puppy pads on each ends to give them regular footings but I will keep them back in the garage for a couple more weeks.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum, glad you joined.

Which is it?

Neither. Their keel bone is not going to deform. There is no reason they need to be roosting at a very young age.

I've seen a broody hen take her chicks to the roosts at two weeks of age. They can roost that young. Those chicks had no damage to their keel bones. Most broody hens wait until they are 4 to 5 weeks old to take them to the roost.

My brooder-raised chicks typically start sleeping on the roosts at night when they are 10 to 12 weeks old. I've had some start start as young as 5 weeks, some later than 12 weeks, but 10 to 12 is fairly typical. They'll play on the roosts during the day but don't start sleeping on them at night. Until they are ready to roost they sleep on the coop floor. It does not hurt them.

Some people on this forum seem to think there is something wrong with their chicks if they don't immediately start roosting. I don't worry about that. I let my chicks decide when they want to start. I see no reason for me to stress over it and I see no benefit to try to train them to sleep on the roosts, at least not until they are 16 weeks old.

 

[Ais]

Thank you ridgerunner!

 

[Mrs. K]

Ridgerunner always gives realist, practical, and very good advice.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Yep! Nothing wrong either way. Some people don’t give them roosts until they integrate them with the flock. But mine started roosting on the edges of their box at 3 weeks. As soon as they could hop up there. Just depends on your birds.

 

[ButtonHoarder]

I don’t think it effects their bones. I would just give it to them.

 

[Ais]

Thanks everyone! Glad to know it won't hurt them.