How long after getting laying hens should they start laying again

[Haywood_jablomi]

Could just be my device, but they seem a little pale to me. Anybody else think so? What are you feeding? Do they have both oyster shell and grit available to free-feed at all times? I'm jealous, the poop board over your nesting boxes looks so new and clean!

Haha, only clean because they aren't using it. They like to sit on top of the little grow out coop and poop on it though . I thought their combs looked a little pale also.. I feed a mix of layer pellets and scratch grain with oyster shell and dried meal worms added in. I don't know what they were being fed previously

 

[Haywood_jablomi]

When you say they sleep in the coop... do you mean in the building? They don't fly up and sleep on top of the nests? Usually chickens like to roost on thd highest spot they can get to.

Edit: typo

No, they sleep in the hay on the floor. They won't use the nesting boxes or roost. Sometimes they sit on top of the grow out coop under the nesting boxes

 

[BigBlueHen53]

My advice is to just feed the layer pellets as their primary diet, it contains all they need, and use the scratch grain and mealworms as special treats, used very sparingly. That will keep them in good condition. I like to use the treatsbasically for training purposes, like to get ghem to come when called, or to go in the coop before a storm and so forth. Since you have a rooster, you might eventually want to switch to an all-flock formula, as he does not need the extra calcium and some say it can be hard on his kidneys. You can then offer oyster shell in a separate dish for the hens, he won't take it and the girls will help themselves. I'd also advise putting a board up, higher than the nests, for them to roost on. They'd probably like that and if it's what they're used to, might solve your problem.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

No, they sleep in the hay on the floor. They won't use the nesting boxes or roost. Sometimes they sit on top of the grow out coop under the nesting boxes

Sorry, this appeared while I was posting. Is this how they slep in their previous home?

 

[Haywood_jablomi]

Sorry, this appeared while I was posting. Is this how they slep in their previous home?

Im not sure. When I picked them up I didn't see any type of space for them besides maybe a 4x4 covered with tarp so I'm assuming they slept out in the yard.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Wow, I am at a loss! Well, I guess if that is what they are used to. Do you know how old these chickens are? Sometimes young birds will sleep huddled together on the floor until they get a little older. They may have to be taught to sleep on a roost. There is some discussion about this in another thread.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm sorry I can't be more help. Please keep us posted.

 

[Kajoda929]

Does anyone know if there's a way to teach them to roost if they actually don't know how? If they were never given the opportunity previously(which is what it sounds like), it's possible they need to be broken of the habit of sleeping on the floor? I'm still new myself, so if I'm wrong, sorry, but I would assume it's essentially like any other type of animal(or person) that is in poor living conditions...When they are put in a good home with adequate space and "bedding" I guess, it can be confusing if they never had it before...This is just a thought, throwing it out there...

 

[BigBlueHen53]

When we integrated our EEs with our older hens last year, we had to physically set them up on the roosts for about three nights, but they caught on pretty quickly.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Could just be my device, but they seem a little pale to me. Anybody else think so?

I thought the same. Could be health or stress related. Moving is pretty stressful.

Does anyone know if there's a way to teach them to roost if they actually don't know how?

Pick them up at night and manually put them on the roosts.