- May 1, 2013
- 9
- 0
- 9
My Australorp pullets are 14 weeks old... I am looking forward to collecting eggs in the coming months. However I have a few issues,
First of all they all seem to want to sleep huddled together on the floor instead of perched on the roost I made. I have put perches at all different heights and left no 'free' space on the floor. Will this help? Or is there a solution to make them roost?
Secondly I have had to block off (using sheets of plywood) the nest boxes as they were sleeping in there... At what age should I remove the plywood to allow access & start filling the nest boxes with straw and what if they decide to just use it as a comfy place to sleep?
Third and final, if you also have Australorp hens, at what age did they start to lay?
Thanks in advance for any advice of which all is welcomed by me as I am new to 'chook rearing'.
First of all they all seem to want to sleep huddled together on the floor instead of perched on the roost I made. I have put perches at all different heights and left no 'free' space on the floor. Will this help? Or is there a solution to make them roost?
Secondly I have had to block off (using sheets of plywood) the nest boxes as they were sleeping in there... At what age should I remove the plywood to allow access & start filling the nest boxes with straw and what if they decide to just use it as a comfy place to sleep?
Third and final, if you also have Australorp hens, at what age did they start to lay?
Thanks in advance for any advice of which all is welcomed by me as I am new to 'chook rearing'.

