When will they start to PERCH?

[GallusGal]

My first little batch of chicks is getting big - they're mostly feathered but for their heads and have easily quadrupled in size since I purchased them about a month ago. They love to perch on my forearm, so I moved them into a larger cage with two nice perches... and they NEVER go on them! Last night I found them both perched on the brim of their water dish, filling it up with poo, about a foot away from the perches. Do I need to show them how to get up there, or...?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Don't expect them to roost up there at night. At that age, they usually prefer to sleep together on the floor. My brooder raised chicks usually don't start roosting at night until they re 10 to 12 weeks old, but my broody raised chicks often start roosting at 4 weeks when Mama tells them to.

How high are those perches? I made a perch by nailing a strip of wood to a couple of 2x4 blocks, so it was just a few inches about the floor. Mine start playing on that before they are a week old. By the time they are a month old, they should be able to fly to a roost 4 feet high.

If I were you, I'd probably set one or two on the perches to get them started. They should catch on pretty quickly.