Almost drown by rain!

[erijn5]

I have bought several breeds for my flock for next yr. Hopefully they do not kill me before they kill themselves.

They have a nice barn with fresh saw dust and fresh stray in the nesting boxes. BUT THEY WILL NOT GO UP WHEN IT RAINS!!!! They are in and out of the building all day long looking and scratching and then at night they will not go in.

I have physically put them in for a wk and they still wouldn't go back in. So I added a red bulb so they could see to go in at night..nope still won't go in. After picking up about 50 juviniles for a wk. I wish they would just go in!!! So at some point last night we had a thunder storm, which was suppose to be scattered, 10% chance so I didn't think nothing of it.

Got up this morning 5 dead due to rain and 1 which was still alive, but completely nothing but mud, due to everyone just walking on it and it laying in the mud. So I picked it up, brought it in, rinsed it off with luke warm water. Covered it up and turned on my brooder box and put it in there. Gave it a shot of Tylan 50.

It was so nasty looking I figured it would be dead in mins eyes closed legs staightening, but as of right now it is trying to sit up, but it's feather are still something of a mess! After it dries off (and lives) it is going to have to do some serious preening.

Some of the other non-50 go in no problem, there is absoultly no reson for them not to in...I even have perches in there that completely go across part of the roosting area that is 6ftx 5ft....no one else is having problems..

These babies are also 6mo old is time for them to know this!!

Suggestions?

 

[ll]

Wow. So sad about the trampled muddy one.

1st if the run is getting that muddy when it rains, I would recommend putting more litter in it. Maybe some stall dry / dry stall too.
Fallen leaves, pine straw / pine needles, pinecones, grass & weed clippings, etc. Any addition will be better than mud city.

I had to pick mine up and put them on the roost a few days.
Can you show a photo of your roost set-up?

 

[erijn5]

I just tilted the pen, it should have soaked in..it must have been a downpour. I slept through it

Right now it is raining try to get one later.

It is starting to fluff and the other chickens must have thought it was dead, it looks like they were plucking its back...bad chickens bad!!!

I guess if it does make it fully I will put it my baby pen, with the baby peacocks.

 

[Chic-n-farmer]

I have bought several breeds for my flock for next yr. Hopefully they do not kill me before they kill themselves.

They have a nice barn with fresh saw dust and fresh stray in the nesting boxes. BUT THEY WILL NOT GO UP WHEN IT RAINS!!!! They are in and out of the building all day long looking and scratching and then at night they will not go in.

I have physically put them in for a wk and they still wouldn't go back in. So I added a red bulb so they could see to go in at night..nope still won't go in. After picking up about 50 juviniles for a wk. I wish they would just go in!!! So at some point last night we had a thunder storm, which was suppose to be scattered, 10% chance so I didn't think nothing of it.

Got up this morning 5 dead due to rain and 1 which was still alive, but completely nothing but mud, due to everyone just walking on it and it laying in the mud. So I picked it up, brought it in, rinsed it off with luke warm water. Covered it up and turned on my brooder box and put it in there. Gave it a shot of Tylan 50.

It was so nasty looking I figured it would be dead in mins eyes closed legs staightening, but as of right now it is trying to sit up, but it's feather are still something of a mess! After it dries off (and lives) it is going to have to do some serious preening.

Some of the other non-50 go in no problem, there is absoultly no reson for them not to in...I even have perches in there that completely go across part of the roosting area that is 6ftx 5ft....no one else is having problems..

These babies are also 6mo old is time for them to know this!!

Suggestions?

Have you locked them in the building for a week (or even 3-4 days)? That what I have always done to train chickens where to sleep. It has never failed me.

 

[erijn5]

Have you locked them in the building for a week (or even 3-4 days)? That what I have always done to train chickens where to sleep. It has never failed me.

Yes, I guess I will have to try that again, I just feel bad leaving them in there...but it can't be any worse than dying!