Background: This year I decided to add youngsters since I was down to two very old hens (9.5 years) I added 5 "pullets" in June, two of whom turned out to be roosters so had to rehome the boys and was down to 3 pullets. One started laying in October, one early November and the third just this last week. Because I now had 3 pullets instead of the 5 I had planned on, I got four more 8 week olds in early October. They finished four weeks of quarantine a month ago but were in rough shape, missing feathers, wild/feral so they have not yet been integrated with the others.... and now it's getting cold. They are now four months old and big enough to integrate but I'm not sure I can catch them to move them from a separated area of the run, into the coop at night, then back out. So they are still in the barn, not integrated.
Since my 7 months old pullets are all laying I'm not desperate for eggs. I've been leaving the coop light on for a couple hours in the evenings, to extend lights. Now that they are all laying, can I stop that lighting and they'll keep laying?
And the 4 month olds.... should I be extending their daylight to keep them on track to lay at around 6 months? They did have a rough start as babies-- overcrowded and no handling. If doing lights will be a stressor I can wait til spring for them to lay.
I do plan to integrate them in December, but not in the next week since we're having a cold snap with overnight lows in the high 20's. I'll wait for days at least 50 degrees, and nights at least above freezing. Mine are typically out in a large run during the day, and have an 11x13 converted horse stall as their coop. There is at least 15' of roosting space, and once they all can roost together, I do have LED panel heaters for a bit of warmth. But at first, they may roost separately or might continue to sleep on the floor like they do now. They will roost during the day, but pile up in a corner on the floor at night. They are the weirdest babies I've experienced.
thanks for any input/advice with regard to the light situation.
Since my 7 months old pullets are all laying I'm not desperate for eggs. I've been leaving the coop light on for a couple hours in the evenings, to extend lights. Now that they are all laying, can I stop that lighting and they'll keep laying?
And the 4 month olds.... should I be extending their daylight to keep them on track to lay at around 6 months? They did have a rough start as babies-- overcrowded and no handling. If doing lights will be a stressor I can wait til spring for them to lay.
I do plan to integrate them in December, but not in the next week since we're having a cold snap with overnight lows in the high 20's. I'll wait for days at least 50 degrees, and nights at least above freezing. Mine are typically out in a large run during the day, and have an 11x13 converted horse stall as their coop. There is at least 15' of roosting space, and once they all can roost together, I do have LED panel heaters for a bit of warmth. But at first, they may roost separately or might continue to sleep on the floor like they do now. They will roost during the day, but pile up in a corner on the floor at night. They are the weirdest babies I've experienced.
thanks for any input/advice with regard to the light situation.
