New 19 week old pullets - signs of stress/not using roosts?

[jthornton]

My guess is they never had a place to roost so they don't know what it is for. Both of my batches of chicks had little chick roost bars from day 3 or so when I got them and by day 7 they had figured out the roost and would line up on it each night as it got dark.

I'd go in after dark and pick each on up and slowly place them on the roost or just give them some time to get used to the new digs. If you place them on the roost give them time to adjust to the roost before letting go. I pick up a chicken by placing my hand under the belly and the other hand to hold the wings down... well the other way around usually I have to put my hand on the wings first.

Do they get the natural sundown as their sign to go to the roost?

They don't look ready to lay yet, the combs and waddles are too pale. Watch for the combs and waddles to get much brighter red then start hunting for eggs of all sizes from tiny eggs with no yolk to double yolk eggs.

Those are some lucky chickens for sure to end up in such a nice place to live.

JT

 

[jthornton]

Here is a photo of one of my pullets about 2 weeks before they started to lay. You can see the comb and waddles are turning bright red and getting bigger.



JT

 

[Ted Brown]

My guess is they never had a place to roost so they don't know what it is for.

Do they get the natural sundown as their sign to go to the roost?

.. Watch for the combs and waddles to get much brighter red then start hunting for eggs of all sizes from tiny eggs with no yolk to double yolk eggs.JT

Thanks JT!

Now that they are in the coop they are governed by the sun rising/falling. Days are getting shorter here, sun up by 6am, dark by 8pm and getting shorter quickly.

I have not yet run electricity to the coop so am not providing additional light but have been told that they need "16 hours of light, no more/no less" to lay. I can't imagine that it is that rigid and have also read that some folks let their hens live by natural light alone (guessing that is what farmers back in the day did). I will get the electricity in soon (water heater needed) but need to go get some outdoor tek wire.

 

[jthornton]

I think the standard for battery hens is 14 hours of light per day but I don't think that holds true for heritage breeds like I have. Pullets will lay through the winter cause they don't know better I think. I started adding light last winter the day after solstice and even with 14 hours of light it didn't seem to make much difference.

This is my egg laying chart from the first egg, and I need to get a new screen shot of it... but even with 14+ hours of light their egg laying dropped off.


JT

 

[DiYMama540]

I'm with @jthornton ...sounds like coming from a hatchery, then kept in a pallet, they have no idea what it's like to be a real chicken! Takes a little time and patience but they will get the hang of it!

Are you still hatching eggs too?

 

[Ted Brown]

I'm with @jthornton ...sounds like coming from a hatchery, then kept in a pallet, they have no idea what it's like to be a real chicken! Takes a little time and patience but they will get the hang of it!

Are you still hatching eggs too?

That was my thought as well, jammed at the hatchery, in the truck and the again in the pallet coop at the feed store. Things improved with my temporary cage but not by much, new coop must seem like died and gone to heaven.

We are on day 12 of the incubation period, checked multiple times every day and sensors/readout constant at 37.5C and 42-43% humidity (plastic Chinese, have been warned that they may not be accurate but checked/calibrated early on with other thermometers; did not have a humidistat). Just having the discussion about brooder space and will be building something in the next week or so.

 

[DiYMama540]

How exciting!! Keep us posted!

 

[aart]

I have not yet run electricity to the coop so am not providing additional light but have been told that they need "16 hours of light, no more/no less" to lay. I can't imagine that it is that rigid

It's not..... tho factory egg farms probably keep a very rigid schedule.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I think your birds will be fine. My first batch of chicks were brooded without a roosting bar. When I moved them to the coop they spent a while on the floor but eventually started roosting on anything they could find. My second batch had a roosting bar in the brooder and were ready to roost when I moved them into the big coop. Just give them time. Animals pick up on your stress so take a breath before interacting with your peeps.

 

[Kiki]

@Ted Brown I was following along your coop build page in the beginning but somehow lost it.

You did a fabulous job on your coop.