Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[chicks4erin]

I thought I had read on this forum somewhere that while the chickens are still young they shouldn't use the roosting bars in the Cube. Is that correct? If so, do you just put cardboard down with some bedding. Also what age is okay for them to use the bars? It's finally getting warm enough here to get my girls outside. My Silkies are 9 weeks and the other girls are 6 weeks. I put them out in their WIR during the day, but bring them into their big brooder box in our garage at night. I was hoping to put them out next week weather permitting. Thanks.

[Redwing]

Roosting bars can bend/dent the keel bone so are a bit of a no-no though lots of people do allow their chicks to perch

 

Personally I think as its something that can be easily avoided its worth removing the bars and adding a layer of bedding instead

 

Having said that I bet they still perch on the nest box divider

[Space Chick]

I have removed the roosting bars for my chicks.... They don't roost on the nest box divide, but it is great for a pounce and jump approach

[surfer_chicken]

I raised chicks in an eglu cube last year. I think I put the roosting bars back in about week 15, but I'm not sure. However they did fight each night over who got to perch on the edge of the nest box and would spend a large part of the day time perching on anything they could find