Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
ELEVATIONISNATURALFORCHICKENS.
In the wild these birds fly up into
trees to be safe from ground predators. Even your little ones will feel this instinctive
draw and hook their talons around the roost. All that's needed for your chicks' first
perch is a thin branch or dowel that can be situated an inch or so above the birds'
bedding. This simple addition literally elevates the chickens' status. Besides giving
them a perch to learn balance and roosting on, it invites a new level of play and social
interaction in the brooder.
Watch your chicks learn to jump, fly onto, and launch themselves from the roost.
See how certain chicks always stick together, even squat side by side on that branch.
It'll be a welcomed addition and get your chicks accustomed to what will surely be
their future sleeping posture of choice.
Adult birds, too, need to be put on a pedestal. Roosts are a must-have in your coop
plans and should be at varied heights for the birds' preferences. My coop has win-
dows, rafters, and near-floor-level roosts, and each bird seems to have an altitude that
suits her. Some birds will go as high as their wings will take them, and others just
want to be on the same rung as their rooster. Whether your coop has a few branches
screwed into the wall or a dramatic system of wooden pallets in pyramids matters
less than that the animals have options of height and space.
