Maine

[superchemicalgirl]

I'd quarantine them from the rest of your flock for a minimum of 2 weeks if you can, 4 if you really can. Check them well for lice and mites. Check their poo for worms, or prophylactically worm if you can.

I'd also up them to at minimum 18% protein feed, and go for 20-22% if you can. I'd also add a cup of black oil sunflower seeds to their diet each day. They won't grow their feathers back until they molt, which will hopefully be soon.

 

[ScienceTchr]

We introduced our new rooster to our flock officially (he had been in the bachelor pad right next to them). We just let him out to forage with them when I got home from work (about 5ish) our dominant hen was instantly submissive to him and while the younger girls are a bit scared of him right now they were happily foraging for BOSS near him. We figured we would just see what happens when it comes to roosting. About an our or so later he followed them right into the coop and settled on the roost, Perdita our dominant hen even gave him her spot! We'll see but things seemed to go well and we'll let him stay in with the girls tonight.

He seems much happier now that he isn't separate from them.

 

[buckabucka]

We introduced our new rooster to our flock officially (he had been in the bachelor pad right next to them).  We just let him out to forage with them when I got home from work (about 5ish) our dominant hen was instantly submissive to him and while the younger girls are a bit scared of him right now they were happily foraging for BOSS near him.  We figured we would just see what happens when it comes to roosting.  About an our or so later he followed them right into the coop and settled on the roost, Perdita our dominant hen even gave him her spot!  We'll see but things seemed to go well and we'll let him stay in with the girls tonight.

He seems much happier now that he isn't separate from them.

I'll bet he is delighted! If the dominant hen is submitting to him, it sounds like it will be clear sailing from here.

 

[ScienceTchr]

We are planning our new coop that we'll build this spring. We are sizing it to the size flock we eventually want (about 18 but a bit of extra space wouldn't be the end of the world). So if we go with a flock of 20 we need to plan for at least 80 sq feet of coop space right?

Our plan now is to revamp an area a bit over from the current coop (which is only 4x8 but we are going to put roofing up over the run and cover the sides with plastic to encourage them to head out there more often this winter). We'll fill in a "vernal pool" the guy who owned this before us built (really it is just a place for the dog to go swimming and a big deep puddle I have to tell kids to stop laying in all.day.long) and level the area and then build the coop and a covered run. Even though we are on the top of a good size hill it gets really wet so we are going to dig a trench and put in drainage around the coop to try and keep the mud down -- hopefully the plans work out.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

If you plan on having them spend a large portion of winter inside, I'd go with a minimum of 4 square foot per bird. If you plan on them going outside most of the winter (except when it's snowing) you can get away with a bit less. My coop's 160 square feet and I keep between 40 and 50 birds in it in winter, more in spring/summer. It's bad on the days when it's actively snowing - really cramped - but they seem to do okay because it's not usually of long duration and there's plenty of roosts, swings and tables in there for them to get away from each other. If they were in there all winter though, they'd more than likely pick at each other and I'd have a bad outcome. It also gets really dirty, really fast.

I make every effort to clean up the snow ASAP after the storm is over so they can go outside and I get up early to let them out at first light. If that's not something you want to do, then I'd recommend more space per bird.

I put hay and shavings from the coop down in the spring when it gets really muddy in the run (and also in the winter after I shovel). It really helps keep the mud down. Might want to try that or adding some sand?

 

[ScienceTchr]

Good to know, we do plan on building the new coop/run to encourage them to head out there in the winter (it will be covered with the clear roofing and we'll cover the wind side (the other side will actually be pretty well protected) with the same roofing in the winter. This year we'll have to really stay on top of things to make sure the chickens go out when it isn't snowing. I know our coop is too small currently for the number of birds that we have but our coop building plans got put on hold when tenants we had living in our rental property just stopped paying rent. Our extra income went towards getting those guys out, repairs to the house after they left and now paying the mortgage on that house without renters to help. Thankfully we just found some amazing renters who are moving in in the next few weeks so as soon as spring is here and we can work on digging without making a huge mess operation chicken coop is on like donkey kong.

 

[ashandvine]

My bf has me shocked and hesitantly tickled: last weekend AND this weekend he has worked on building me nest boxes! There weren't any in the barn basement at all so each pen needs a set. I gave him a rough idea and drawing of what I wanted. He made the first one the way I wanted and has since done what he always does-- make it his without really knowing the reasons it should be done the way I want, BUT!!! the point is that he is making them (months later than he said he would and now that I don't actually have chickens laying)! I am slightly amazed and totally appreciative. FTR I did try making them myself a few times but baby just wasn't having the noise or neglect. My chickens are doomed to face winter with half finished winterizing (just those grain bags and some hay).
Can I offer AI all at once or should I gradually increase when I am ready?

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Awesome, Ash! Your chickens should appreciate them regardless of what they look like. I have a few that lay in covered cat litter pans and couldn't care less about its stinky past.

Got pictures?

We're supposed to be building a goat shed but I got sidetracked.

 

[Widget]

Mine have an old small dog crate to lay eggs in. Just bought some new tarps to wrap around the coop area. Still trying to figure out how to insulate it better for the winter. Being the top (round) part of an old hoop house makes it difficult.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

We tarped our hoop house, although we'll be using it this winter most likely for hay storage and not for chickens. Heavy tarp and it blocks the wind pretty good. We bought some small bungie tie cords and attached it that way.