When to add a roost

[epona4]

My "kids" are 3 weeks old today. When should I add a branch for them to practice roosting on? One stood on the waterer a bit ago and jumped down.

I need a much larger brooder!

 

[2468Chickensrgr8]

I would add a branch now....give them something to do...they'll be funny to watch...Good luck !
Edit to note...I had put my origonally six babies in a large wire dog crate that was open at the bottom .I placed tons of newspapers under the cage...so cleaning was a breeze....fold up the newspaper and throw away...This all happened at the end of spring so it was warmer here....you could always hang a heat light....hope that helps...

 

[aiwetir]

you can put it in anytime

my favorite memories are of all my girls sleeping on the roost with their heads hanging straight down until they were almost touching the brooder cage bottom. the roost was only about 3-4 inches off the deck.

 

[cdeans]

I put roosts in mine from day one. There are lower and higher ones.

 

[Dustoff79]

I added a 2 bar roost at about a week old. I just used scrap 2x4s as stands and attached a 1x2 between (as roost) I had one level at 4" and the second at 8".

 

[Smartie_Pants]

I got mine as 2 week olds and they kept trying to "roost" on the feeder and waterer, so I put a branch in then and they used it. Its never to early.

 

[redoak]

I usually give chicks a tiny roost the first week. Less then 6 inches off the ground. Gives them something else to do and poop on.

 

[joshplus10]

Oh oh! It seems that I've been negligent. My first chickens were 6 weeks old before I hung a roost.

They are now 10 weeks old and I rarely see them use it. Perhaps three feet is too high? Perhaps an inch in a half in diameter is too narrow? Perhaps it should be flat, square, or rectangular rather than round?

 

[debilorrah]

Gosh we gave them little popsickle sticks from day one....