Maine

[Marcy54]

I have 8 week old Easter Eggers. How old do thy have to be in order to be okay in the coop? This is my first time with chickens this age.

 

[lazy gardener]

Marcy, where are they now? I assume that you've taken the extra heat away long ago? Have they been spending days outside? That would be the first step. They should be hardened off to outside temps similar to the same way you would with plants. Start with a few hours on a mild day, continue adding extra time till they are outside all day long, then put them out for the night. The important thing is for them to have a dry and wind free coop, plenty of ventilation, and, at this age, perhaps a nice big box lined with hay for them to snuggle down in. They are ok to go out as soon as they are fully feathered, assuming that you have hardened them off properly.

 

[buckabucka]

I have a chicken in the house again. She'd been looking sluggish for a couple of days. This afternoon, she was already dozing on the roost while everyone was scratching around. I assumed it was a crop issue.

Once I examined her, her crop felt okay, and there were no lice or mites. I offered her scrambled egg and she was thrilled. Maybe she has some kind of reproductive issue. She's not terribly sick, just sluggish and not quite normal. I guess I will worm her and see if she improves. She was wormed 4 months ago or so, so I don't know. Doesn't seem like it would hurt.

 

[Marcy54]

They were in a barn. i put them in a dog kennel outside during the day. We bought a coop for the six of them so they wouldn't have to be with the older birds right off. I am actually building a bigger coop if we ever lose all of the snow. I put shavings in the bottom of the coop for them to nest in.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I lose the heat on mine (indoors, controlled room temp) at about 10 to 14 days. By 6 weeks they are more than ready to head outside, regardless of weather.

Your results may vary, but that's what I've been doing for years.

 

[sparrowsnest]

I guess a lot of folks are thinking about integration right now I've have 4 roos and 14 hens in the main coop right now. They're all 8-12 months. Had to sew some chicken aprons for a few of the girls, but otherwise everyone seems to be doing well. I have a 'play pen' set up in the main coop where I've had 5 chicks for a couple weeks. They're about 11 wks old, fully feathered and I suspect 2 cockerels in this group. I have 8 6 wk old chicks in a brooder in the basement that need more room that are putting pressure on me. We're planning to cull all but one of the roos in May/June. Should I build another playpen or integrate the older chicks? Thanks!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

If you've got the room in the coop/run I would integrate. No reason to do more feeders/waterers.

 

[IZZYBELLA]

I have a chicken in the house again. She'd been looking sluggish for a couple of days. This afternoon, she was already dozing on the roost while everyone was scratching around. I assumed it was a crop issue.

Once I examined her, her crop felt okay, and there were no lice or mites. I offered her scrambled egg and she was thrilled. Maybe she has some kind of reproductive issue. She's not terribly sick, just sluggish and not quite normal. I guess I will worm her and see if she improves. She was wormed 4 months ago or so, so I don't know. Doesn't seem like it would hurt.

I have a girl I'm keeping my eye on, too. Can't find anything wrong with her, so I'm thinking of deworming, too. They were dewormed in Oct. I just hate doing it in the spring when they are laying like crazy! Better to deworm and forfeit the eggs than lose a hen I suppose!

 

[buckabucka]

Mine is not normal-acting yet, but she is back outside. She was eating, but had not pooped at all, so I was beginning to wonder if she was egg bound.

I had a horrendous day at work yesterday. When I left, I was feeling overwhelmed, - between school, knowing that hatching eggs arrived that I needed to deal with, and knowing I had to deal with a chicken in the house. I arrived home to find she was gone (not dead)!

DH said he had spent some time on the internet, googling "chicken constipation" . Then she pooped and he hauled her out of here!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Can he come here and help? I have 19 birds in the house.