*Buff Orpington Thread!*

[CuzChickens]

My 5 week old buff roosters are stealing my heart! They love shoulders, I am dreading selling them.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My 5 week old buff roosters are stealing my heart! They love shoulders, I am dreading selling them.

 

[henmania]

Lookin' good   I like it - looks roomy.  I think once they get comfortable they will enjoy it.

A few things come to mind - if your BO's are like mine, they are not that graceful and not fliers  The ramp to the perches looks a bit steep, you may want to lengthen it or put a block under it to lessen the angle a bit.  You also may want to add a block or little ramp on the inside of the doorway so they can get out a little easier. 

Now, this is just me being plain nosey - do you have a way to close the pop door at night and what's the shelving rack inside for

Haha thanks a lot . The shelving rack is so I can put all their food, hay stacks, shells etc instead of in the garage. It was taking up space in a garage And I think mice were trying to get through to the corn.
Side note: do you think I should fill the first shelf with hay as a sort of nesting box?

I don't have a door for the pop door yet but should be making one this week too. They seemed to have no problem escaping from it, just didn't want to go in through it

I think as you mentioned a while ago I will bring the first roost lower and probably put a brick under the ramp to lessen the steep angle.


Ps, the chickens have more walking space in their coop than I have in my room

Lool

Edit: just to update, I dismantled the old coop and boy did the chickens put up a fight but once it was gone they did lay in the new coop.
One still lays soft shells

Which seem to deflate over the day;

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Quote:
Putting hay in the bottom shelf sounds like a great idea! They may like that as a nesting box or...they may decide that's where to sleep

you never know about chickens. Having the feed and your supplies in there will make things handy too.
The new coop looks nice and roomy for sure.

Bless her heart - that's a soft shell egg. It could be due to an immature shell gland if she started laying young, vitamin deficiency, stress, etc. Since you have been making a few changes in their housing, etc. she could be a little stressed - if you have them, give them some poultry vitamins for a couple of days and watch to see if she is drinking well.

I think it all looks great, you've done a wonderful job

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems

 

[missy1971]

Quote: Seeing the roost that you have, im thinking i need to lower mine. I just built a new shed coop, and im trying to get everything in place to make sure they have the most room. I have a big table we built from the other coop, about 2 1/2 ft wide and about 5 foot long, the laying boxed are on the 2nd level, and food is on the top level. i think its taking up to much room, ill post a pic in a few, the pic is on my phone, tell me what ya'll think

 

[missy1971]

My hands are average sized. This hen does lay pretty big eggs. My other BO lays smaller eggs. You should see one of my Easter eggers' ... they don't fit in the extra large carton! Here they are for comparison! My same hand. That same hen laid a double yolk once that was like a turkey egg. She's not that big a chicken either. I don't think that roost is too high henmania. I have one that is 5' up, but there is a lower one about 2' off the ground too. They might need a second as a booster. Or put them on it during the day to check it out. It might take a few days.

Wow that's huge! I love the blue shade. If that from the waster egger? I think the lower roost is about 50-60cm from the ground but I'll try placing them on it throughout the day. I'll keep everyone posted

Seeing the roost that you have, im thinking i need to lower mine. I just built a new shed coop, and im trying to get everything in place to make sure they have the most room. I have a big table we built from the other coop, about 2 1/2 ft wide and about 5 foot long, the laying boxed are on the 2nd level, and food is on the top level. i think its taking up to much room, ill post a pic in a few, the pic is on my phone, tell me what ya'll think. The igloo house is gone now btw.

 

[Johnn]

Once you get remove the old coop they will settle and use the new one. It may be confusing to them to have two places

Johnn!!!!!!!! Where have you and the ladies been

The Orp Girls look lovely as always

Beautiful photos!

Thank you! They look a bit rough on there as these were a couple months ago after their moult. They have been in lock down due to a Bird Flu outbreak over here

What a view!! Which state are you and the ladies located in?

We are in the UK

Wow they get to enjoy that beautiful view everyday... feeling a bit jealous of those chickens lol

Look at those cuties posing for the camera lol

Thank you!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Quote: Hi Johnn

I had read about the lock down, but haven't kept up with it too much. Is it over? Are they free to enjoy the sun on their faces now

 

[henmania]

Putting hay in the bottom shelf sounds like a great idea!  They may like that as a nesting box or...they may decide that's where to sleep:/ you never know about chickens.  Having the feed and your supplies in there will make things handy too.
The new coop looks nice and roomy for sure.  

Bless her heart - that's a soft shell egg.  It could be due to an immature shell gland if she started laying young, vitamin deficiency, stress, etc.   Since you have been making a few changes in their housing, etc. she could be a little stressed - if you have them, give them some poultry vitamins for a couple of days and watch to see if she is drinking well.

I think it all looks great, you've done a wonderful job
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems

Thanks a lot . It was my first time putting something like this together with my father so it was an enjoyable project.
I'm hoping it's an immature shell gland because it's harder than what it used to come out as a few weeks ago. I've topped up their calcium etc and cut out the treats to a handful a night, if they've completed their homework, so their main source of nutrition is their layer pellets, lettuce, brockley and whatever they scratch out of the ground. Her eggs have all been like this since the start a few weeks back so I'll give her time because everything else she does seems very normal.

 

[henmania]

That's awesome. Because you don't come home one day to see the chickens sitting around the table plotting their evil plans... as chickens obviously do when we're not around.
But **** we through out a similar table last week I could've copied your idea

Edit: becareful you don't*