Procrastinating again

[digitS']

Do not allow them to roost in the nestboxes!

Nothing is more discouraging than eaten eggs ... You thought I'd say poopy eggs! Well, one leads to the other.

Before I have the box curtains hung just right to darken the box interiors, I have gone out in the evening and unceremoniously dumped those hens out of the boxes! Just to let them know that climbing in their boxes won't lead to a restful night's sleep!

Steve

 

[thistlebloom]

My last batch of hens were terrible about roosting in the nest boxes. I did the after dark visits, and went so far as to stuff cardboard and deer netting and other uncomfortable objects in there to discourage it only to have a few hard core hens climb on top of it all and poop it up. Ugh.
Finally sold the flock off and started fresh.

 

[thistlebloom]

Thinking back on that flock...they were lousy layers too, just a period of frustration during their time here. I'm real happy with my current girls.

 

[Just-Moxie]

My new hatches seem to have a problem with that. Sleeping in the nest boxes. If I let them be raised in the main coop, mama hen teaches them to roost. If I have to add them later, the bigger bullies won't let them roost on the roosts. Right now, I am blocking the nest boxes at night. Mostly the "kids" just poop in the nest boxes..but the boys like to scratch and kick all of the straw out.

 

[Smart Red]

I have no problem (yet) with anyone trying to sleep in the nesting boxes, since I just put them up late last week. No luck (yet) with anyone trying to use them either. All the pullets were used to roosting on their fencing until I removed it. Now all but two were roosting way up on the rafters and two were on the floor with my older, crippled hen, Coachie. The nesting boxes I put in are merely an emergency stop-gap until I get their forever home done.

 

[catjac1975]

Speaking of procrastination, Thing Two, my Australorp mix, is setting on five eggs. Two of them are starting to hatch out. I'm hoping there will be ample time for the chicks to get their feathers before the real cold sets in. This week -- 60s. Next week -- 70s. At this time of year the 70s are a blessing pure and simple.

With 16 new-to-be layers, 7 old hens, and two roosters (in two flocks), I really think a couple of new roosters would be great. There will be a culling before winter. I can't manage 16 eggs a day at the best of times.

2 Winters ago we had that cold winter where it was in exceptionally low temps for long periods across the country. It was the first time I lost some young hens. They had plenty of feathers but their feet froze. I used antibiotics on their feet trying to save them. One young rooster lived -we call him stumpy as his toes froze back. They hatched in October. I will not do that again, but it was an unusually cold winter. I have young chicks now but they hatched out 2 weeks ago so they are farther along. I will have to figure something out if we have another bad winter.

 

[Smart Red]

Cat, I do have heat options for my coop. I hesitate to add winter heat for fear the birds would be in worse shape should the electricity fail, but I did supply some heat for the coldest times that winter. I know it made a difference for the birds.