Chicken coop questions!

[PartyChicken123]

We have (about) 2 month old chickens both are hens and we are first time chicken owners and I just have a few questions.

1. We have a 2 floor coop and at night they always try to go to the top floor. We read somewhere that they aren't supposed to go up there until they start laying eggs. Is that true or is it okay for them to sleep on the top floor at night?

2. When winter weather comes should we keep the hens inside until spring or bring them inside or can we still let them out of the coop?

3. We give them a boiled egg once in a while, are there any other foods we can give them ?

4. Do we ever need to trim their beaks or nails?

 

[LadyAchee]

We have (about) 2 month old chickens both are hens and we are first time chicken owners and I just have a few questions.

1. We have a 2 floor coop and at night they always try to go to the top floor. We read somewhere that they aren't supposed to go up there until they start laying eggs. Is that true or is it okay for them to sleep on the top floor at night?

2. When winter weather comes should we keep the hens inside until spring or bring them inside or can we still let them out of the coop?

3. We give them a boiled egg once in a while, are there any other foods we can give them ?

4. Do we ever need to trim their beaks or nails?

Pictures would be helpful. Also where you are located makes a huge difference.

 

[PartyChicken123]

Pictures would be helpful. Also where you are located makes a huge difference.

We live in concord nc

 

[LadyAchee]

We live in concord nc

It is definitely okay for them to sleep on the top. The top part of yours is the coop and the bottom wired part is their run. If you decide to get more this coop will most likely be too small. I'm not familiar with the winters in NC. But if it's snowing this coop may not keep them warm enough. Others will chime in on that part.

 

[rosemarythyme]

1. You have a coop on top of a mini run. Chickens should sleep in (and be locked in) the coop for their safety at night, unless you feel confident your run is predator safe enough for them to use all the time.

2. They absolutely should not be locked in unless you're talking about arctic type climates (which is not what you have). If snow or icy winds are a concern you'll need to weather proof your run so they can use it regardless of weather conditions.

3. Chickens can have plenty of foods and scraps as "treats" but it's best for them to have their feed as their primary ration. Make sure they have grit or access to grit size stone so they can digest treats or anything else they pick up from digging around.

4. It depends. Ideally you should have things like bricks or concrete blocks around for them to whittle their beaks on, but some chickens need additional help to maintain beak condition or to keep nails worn down.

 

[3KillerBs]

Here in central NC we don't really have winter -- except for maybe a week or so.

Chickens are wearing down coats 24/7 and cope more easily with cold than with heat. They can be allowed out into their run in any weather central NC is ever likely to see except hurricanes. Ventilation is more important than warmth -- it's moisture that causes frostbite.

If they are free to go in and out all day they will choose what makes them happy and comfortable.

 

[Ridgerunner]

1. We have a 2 floor coop and at night they always try to go to the top floor. We read somewhere that they aren't supposed to go up there until they start laying eggs. Is that true or is it okay for them to sleep on the top floor at night?

When chickens mature enough to start to roost they tend to like to roost on the highest spot available. This has nothing to do with egg laying, males don't lay eggs and they do it too. I've had brooder-raised chicks start roosting at night as young as 5 weeks, I've had them wait a lot longer. It would be interesting to know why they said that, there may be something rally unique with their situation where this actually makes sense, but in general "what are those idiots thinking"?

2. When winter weather comes should we keep the hens inside until spring or bring them inside or can we still let them out of the coop?

I always lave the pop door open during the day and let them decide if they want to come out or not. I took this first photo when it was 4* F, probably as cold as you are likely to see. You can see what they decided. If a cold wind were blowing they would not be out, but it was calm.

Chickens don't like change. If they wake up to a white world they are usually really reluctant to go out in it for a few days. The day I took this photo the 1" of snow fell during the day when they were already out. The change was gradual enough that they never bothered to go in.

Your job is not to keep them warm. Your job is to allow them to keep themselves warm with their down coat. As long as it is dry, well ventilated, and they can get out of the wind they can manage quite well. I don't know what your coop looks like or how it is ventilated so I can't blindly say your coop is OK. A photo could help.

3. We give them a boiled egg once in a while, are there any other foods we can give them ?

Chickens do not have teeth so they cannot chew their food. But as long as they have grit to put in their gizzards they can grind things up there. One of the first things my broody hens do is take their chicks to a bare spot of ground where they can peck the ground and get grit (small bits of rock) in their systems. Then she feeds them bits of grass, grasshoppers, whatever she can find. Instead of what they can eat it's easier to say what you should not give them. The main things on my "avoid" list are avocados, uncooked dried beans, and green potatoes, especially the green skin. Potatoes are fine as long as they are not green. As Rosemary said, most of what they eat should be their feed, everything else in moderation.

4. Do we ever need to trim their beaks or nails?

Extremely rarely. Some beaks are mis-formed and can be helped by shaping. I've never had to do that. Their claws do continue to grow and can grow to a point it is hard for them to walk but I've never had to trim a pullet or hen's claws either. All chickens have spurs, even hens. Typically with females they remain tiny, not a problem at all. But some older hens can have spurs that grow so long they have trouble walking or the spur curls around so it starts to puncture the leg and grow into it. I've never had that either but there are a few photos on here where that has happened with old hens, several years old. It happens more often with roosters.

When you use the word "ever" then about anything can happen. The vast majority of us do not have these issues but I can't truthfully say "never".

 

[drinkoj]

4. It depends. Ideally you should have things like bricks or concrete blocks around for them to whittle their beaks on....

First time I've read this and it makes complete sense. Thanks!