Is this normal for a new bunch of girls?

[Phlimm]

Might need some more ventilation in that coop, unless there's more windows on the other side. Hopefully soffits are open.

There is a second opening on the opposite side. It is a long narrow slot about the same height as the front door window. It is always open and the door to the run is always open.

Which leads me to my next question.

The girls...they LOVE to just stand around inside the coop. The leave the run where all the food and water and nice grass is and go inside. They just stand there looking at each other. They would do it all day long if I did not shoo them out into the run like a 1970's mom with her video game playing kids. GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY!

So, is that something I should be doing? I am trying to reduce all their stress to get them to start laying and feel like they are safe here. I even opened the big door and waited to see what they would do. They walked up to the doorway and pecked happily at the grass but would not come outside.

This is they way they behave no matter if it is hot or rainy or just right.

So should I keep on shooing them out into the run? Or even try letting them run around the back yard or just wait for them to make that decision on their own? It's weird. The last chickens we had loved to run around, chase each other and take dirt baths, etc. All these girls seem interested in is staring at each other in the coop.

 

[Phlimm]

There's definitely nothing dangerous. They are completely safe in the run and 95% safe in the back yard as long as a person is out there with them. There are occasional noises from cars and maybe neighbor dog barks but not loud or nearby. Our backyard is quite large and we are on a corner lot so only two direct neighbors.

Half or the run has hardware cloth and the other half has hardware cloth and a roof. I doubt they would even be able to see a hawk overhead.

Of course they could perceive it as dangerous I suppose.

Also with regard to fake eggs in the nesting boxes to -ahem- make a suggestion, is a colored plastic Easter egg sufficient or should I get something more true to nature?

 

[Phlimm]

Would adding another hen that is laying possible put the idea back into their heads? It's been over a week and they all are starting to look physically better (bald patches growing in, etc.), they do sort of walk around in the run on their own from time to time and three of them roost on their own every night. The Black Copper Maran does not seem to want to roost for some reason. I put her up there every night.

But no eggs yet from four hens. I have yet to even see them in the nesting boxes except to try to sleep there. We were thinking if we introduced a new hen and she was laying that this might...egg them along...

 

[Phlimm]

I spoke to the person who sold them and she said they are not battery hens but that what she fed them was different that what I am. She said she fed them a 38% soy based protein diet blended with calcium and limestone.

I am feeding standard 16% Layer Pellets. How would this affect them? Was she feeding this sort of food to raise them as meat chickens maybe? I've never heard of such a high protein feed.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I am betting she went super high protein due to crowding caused pecking and she thought additional protein would stop them. Desperate measures maybe drove her to that high of a protein.

You can add protein to see if it helps.

 

[Folly's place]

Who knows? I can't imagine having birds that looked like yours did...
Mary

 

[Hidrainja4]

My non traumatized chickens are three weeks into the new coop and, I am still putting some hens up onto roosting bars and just the lst couple of days we are getting more than one egg a day from five hens. Also all chicken freak out over any changes of habitat for two weeks. Even if it is an improvement. Pale combs means they are under the weather about something and their hormones that says lay eggs are not robust. Give it more time, and if you add another bird that is a change and add two weeks to them settling down over it. I would not add another bird, I would not expect them to lay eggs for at least a month to six weeks because they are in poor condition. I would sit with them and feed them very nutritious food because I like hanging out with my chickens.

 

[RainbowHen]

You can try it. Be careful of introducing disease.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Thanks for the replies. They've started to eat the feed on a regular basis now. No eggs yet.

Two of them seems to be able to understand how to roost, the other two end up on the floor of the coop or in the nesting box. For the last two nights, I wait until they are asleep then move them up to the roosting bars myself. Should I keep doing that?

I've attached several photos so people can see what I am talking about.

View attachment 2273628
The whole group together. Cream Legbar is the beakless one.

View attachment 2273631

Back of the Black Copper Maran.

View attachment 2273632

Another pic of the backs. These are the worst two. The Lavender Orpington's back is much less noticeable and the Ameraucana's back does not appear to have any issues.

View attachment 2273633

Their new home with the appropriate dog tax applied. He loves to sniff around the coop but does not bark at them.

Congratulations on your new flock
Beautiful girls and super cute coop (love your puppy photobomb). I also thought that the combs were rather anemic looking. I'd check for bugs, add some vitamins to their water for the first few days and take it from there. Maybe they just need some garden bugs and love for the rest of their lives... maybe a little iron scraped on the crunchies. Rooster(s) should not be doing that to pullets... yikes. They gotta be laying...
She may not have raised them in the best manor- I think most of us can agree on that but they are with YOU now (thank goodness!) . They are probably stunned with all of the space and kindness. I'm sure they will be running you over and squawking for snacks in no time and you will be missing the days when they quietly looked up at you.
I'd keep putting girls on the roost at night till they "get it" too. I think you are doing a great job. Keep up the good work.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Three now roost every night. The Maran has taken to roosting in the nesting box but I move her up every night too.

So...what vitamins and/or iron source? I did get some meal worms but it was late and they were going to bed so we'll see how they like those today.

I just got regular people iron when 1 of my girls was pale. I crushed it to a powder w/ my herb pestle and sprinkled 1/8?? or under of the pill on a favorite food (pasta, tomato, papaya, scrambled egg, wet crumble etc, etc.) that it would stick to and get gobbled up. She got her color within a few days

For a vitamin I use a nutri- drench or a B12. These are fabulous to keep on hand in your pet arsenal and worth the $10 or so that you will spend on each, they can easily be added into the water to treat the whole flock.
I hate to overwhelm you... but when you get the time and since you are still communicating with the gal, ask her if she can send you photos of her set up. Not to criticize, but for your chickens background. I hatch and raise chicks to sell sometimes and if anyone asked me... I'd be thrilled to inundate them with photos and information. I want my kids to go to great homes and I want their new people to be excited and have what they need for them to have long happy lives.
And another thing.... we have not discussed worms yet. That is not a big thing and their past living conditions will be a clue if they were more likely to have picked them up. Worms would tap the energy and pale their combs and may just be a good thing to check for and treat AFTER they have settled in for a bit.
You got this. I have picked up chicks from breeders that needed me to sort some stuff out for them. You have lots going for you. You are not introing them into an already existing flock so they are already in quarantine with each other and you are on BYC getting info and support.
I still have the chicks that I picked up 3 years ago and all are very well.