abbikings
In the Brooder
- Jun 28, 2016
- 9
- 4
- 42
I jokingly say that my hens (7) have a summer house and a winter cabin. In winter, we use a coop/run near the house along a side yard. It’s sturdy construction, well insulated, close to the house so I don’t have to trudge through much snow to tend to them, and it’s near an electrical outlet so I can keep their water thawed. In summers, they move to the backyard. It’s a much larger enclosed run, and we can enjoy watching them from the deck. However, coop is flimsier (converted playhouse), it’s nowhere near an outlet, and it’s much farther from the house. This is the second winter we’ve moved them, but the first time they’ve quit laying eggs entirely. It been about a month and a half.
Is this move really so stressful and disruptive to them? If this is a bad idea I’ll change things up.
Another factor is that our oldest hen died naturally about 2 weeks ago. She wasn’t the alpha, but maybe her declining health in the last weeks would have caused this egg decline.
If anyone has experience moving hens frequently, or can offer any advice I’d be grateful. I’d feel awful if what was best intentions for their housing was actually bad for them.
Thanks!
Is this move really so stressful and disruptive to them? If this is a bad idea I’ll change things up.
Another factor is that our oldest hen died naturally about 2 weeks ago. She wasn’t the alpha, but maybe her declining health in the last weeks would have caused this egg decline.
If anyone has experience moving hens frequently, or can offer any advice I’d be grateful. I’d feel awful if what was best intentions for their housing was actually bad for them.
Thanks!