Adapting to New Digs - How Long Until . . . .

[Keel]

A brief follow up: Let the ramp down Saturday a.m., at 1:30 p.m. none had come down into the run. So I gave them some assistance, but left 2 up in the coop to see if they'd follow on their own. Just the opposite happened, the 4 I assisted down to the run were upstairs by 6 p.m., 2.5 hours before dark-thirty.

I figured it would be a rough road ahead, but this a.m. I awoke to all 6 pecking around the run, having come down the ramp without any prodding. I just checked (9:30 p.m.) and didn't see any birds in the run, so I assume they are upstairs roosting, I can see their heads through the vent when they roost in the daytime, but when they sleep I think they hunch down to where I can't, so I'm guessing all is right with them for now.

I cut a watermelon this a.m. and found it too firm, not ripe at all, so I put the whole thing in their run in chunks. While they enjoyed it, when I refilled the feeder with the crumbles, they made a bee-line for it, and chowed on it, even squabbling amongst themselves for a turn at the feeder. Another issue resolved, they like their crumbles.

One last question, I read that Buff Orpingtons can be slow to start laying, but when should I change their feed? Should I keep them on starter a bit longer, or is there an interim feed between starter and layer I need to find? TIA.

 

[Gramma Chick]

One last question, I read that Buff Orpingtons can be slow to start laying, but when should I change their feed? Should I keep them on starter a bit longer, or is there an interim feed between starter and layer I need to find? TIA.

Sounds like they are adjusting .
There is a grower ...in the middle . Most chickens start laying at 5 months or more .
I hadnt heard that about Orps ...when do you expect them to start?

 

[aart]

Glad to hear they're figuring it out.
I feed a 20% protein flock raiser to all birds of all ages...and provide oyster shell and crushed chicken eggs shells in a separate container for the layers. The higher protein also offsets the other treats I give.

 

[Keel]

Sounds like they are adjusting .
There is a grower ...in the middle . Most chickens start laying at 5 months or more .
I hadnt heard that about Orps ...when do you expect them to start?

I had started them on organic feed, however I'm not sure my hip pocket can stand that in the long run. I looked at the website for the feed I used and found a "grower/developer" they recommend "until the first egg" at which time they say switch to the layer. I'm still feeding them starter, and it said I should have started them from the beginning (got them at 11 weeks) on the grower/developer. At $40/bag, they'll finish this before I get them the correct stuff.

They are around 12 weeks now, so I guess 3 more months before I could expect an egg at the earliest.

 

[Keel]

Glad to hear they're figuring it out.
I feed a 20% protein flock raiser to all birds of all ages...and provide oyster shell and crushed chicken eggs shells in a separate container for the layers. The higher protein also offsets the other treats I give.

Thanks, me too.

That would make things simpler if one has a mixed age flock, for certain.