~~ When do chicks need a pole to roost on?~~

[ChooksChick]

I forgot to mention, last year was my first year with chicks, and I had something in there for them to roost on at 2 weeks- and they did. Those were Barred Rocks.

This year I put it in immediately, and they started at about 1 1/2 weeks.

It's a pretty obvious way to reduce the crowding of the tub, too. I now have a second tub up against the side and they just bebop back and forth between the two at will, from the roosting rods to the top, into the next tub, and so on. Very helpful on the crowding.

 

[lisahaschickens]

I agree with the "as soon as possible" group.

I have 15 chicks that are now 6 weeks old. The earliest started roosting on the chick waterers at about 1.5 weeks of age. At two weeks we moved them out to the coop and built them a "baby perch" (low to the ground - maybe 8-12 inches) and they LOVED it. Now at 6 weeks, they all perch all over the coop - some on the "grown up" perches and some still use the baby one.

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Quote:

same here.

 

[Judy]

I stick a couple of small branches through holes in the side of the (cardboard box) brooder. Few if any will actually roost/sleep on it, but some will jump and play on it, something to do, and gets them used to the idea. At 3 weeks I placed a couple of 2X4s (flat side up) on concrete blocks. Most sleep on the floor but some on the roosts. Probably could have skipped the brooder branches, but I wouldn't want them not to have a roost at 3 weeks. Bet I won't have to teach them to roost later.

 

[ChooksChick]

My 7 babies are different ages between 1 and 3 1/2 weeks old- I just keep getting new ones and tossing them in...gotta stay away from the feed store!

I thought you might like to see the mess we use as a brooder. Works well for us, in the confined space we have: 1300 sq. ft. for 2 adults, a pre-teen, a teen, a giant Labradork, a tiny rat-dog, a 28# cat, 2 guinea pigs, 4 hermit crabs...there must be something I'm forgetting INSIDE...and 6 BR pullets outside.

Wheeeeee! Cue the mayhem!

 

[Mahonri]

My four week old chicks have a roost but only 3 or 4 of the twelve use it at this time.

 

[Desert Plum]

I just put in their roost today. They don't get it yet but Stripey(Araucana) is bigger than every chick in there with longer legs so I figure she may or may not be the first to perch.

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

I started with a 1" apple tree branch in my rabbit cage then when I moved the girls 4 days later to the huge stock tank, I screwed the branch to blocks of wood to raise it a couple inches. As the chicks grew, I just added another block of wood.

Last week at age 3 wks, I switched the branch out for a 2 x 4 nailed with the 4" side flat about 5" up on blocks. Some have used the roost from 1 week on and others don't. I have also put a flat rock in there that sits up about 3" that holds heat from the lamp that the little ones like to sit on and I have a wooden dish drying rack leaned up against the tank that others like to perch on.

I think chickens like to get up on things, gives them something to do when awake besides eat and pick on each other. In fact, at 4 wks they don't pick on each other at all.