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

[aart]

I just went into the coop and discovered two eggs in the back corner under the dropping board. One had been broken, the other intact and covered with egg yolk/white.

WooHoo! Congrats!
Was the broken one thin shelled?
Not to worry, soft or thin shelled eggs are common with new layers.
But good to keep them picked up asap so they don't realize how delicious they are.
Better get those nests done!

No idea which two laid them but we do have two that have larger comb & waddles that are red in colour.

Those would be the ones.

 

[Ted Brown]

WooHoo! Congrats!

Better get those nests done!

1st nest box is modified and re-painted, just waiting for that to dry, will install tomorrow morning.

 

[Ted Brown]

...
Make sure they see you seeding the nest boxes with fake eggs - they should give them a thorough inspection and won't take long to pick up the hint.

Since they're starting to lay, I would strongly recommend making sure they're moved up every night.

Thank you for this; we will follow both starting tonight with moving them. I need a bit of carpet for the nest box but will install it in the coop Wednesday morning.

 

[DiYMama540]

You can also use a dimmer extension cord.

Mind blown...thank you so much for this!! That will be so much safer than the system I had rigged!

 

[Ted Brown]

Mind blown...thank you so much for this!! That will be so much safer than the system I had rigged!

No doubt about it the lady is a fund of very useful and practical advice. I read someone recently say "I've learned that if @aart gives advice, follow it". That's what I do.

 

[MiaS]

"...eating/drinking/pooping/moving around OK" For sure all seem to be functioning well.

"...don't stress about it" It was a marathon to get the coop done, close to 14 days of work until 7-8pm every night. I am beginning to relax but do want to have the ladies healthy and content so am now digging into the care and feeding aspects.

"Here in the US..." I don't know about the regulations here but the practices are largely influenced by laws in the US. Purina is a big supplier and most certainly have the ingredients listed. The dry mash bag from the local feed store has their name, locations and web site in bold blue and NOTHING else. They are a reputable company that has been around for decades and is the go to in my area (mostly agricultural). I saw their grinder, they had it out and on the ground for cleaning and inspection; looked brutal and efficient.

Which company Ted? I've been buying HiPro feed and if you go to their website you can ask them to provide the ingredient list to you. Perhaps others do the same

 

[Ted Brown]

@MiaS It is a local 3 outlet business - M&R Feeds (Shawville, Pembroke, Renfrew), they grind their mash on-site.

They may provide an ingredient list if I ask (I will) but nothing on the bag. It is $14/25kg bag. So far my pullets eat it up but I am not sure that means anything, time will tell. When I bought it I asked specifically for ground shells (calcium supplement I think). The gal gave a sweeping statement that their mash "had everything that was needed".

I accepted that statement at the time but have since come to realize that she is not the expert she seemed and also has fixed ideas that are not always correct (eg she refuses to believe that birds can go through a winter without heating the coop going so far as to say "I think of heat and light as the same thing."). I will find out what is in their mash and then ensure my birds get everything they need even if supplements are called for or switch to something else.

 

[MiaS]

@MiaS It is a local 3 outlet business - M&R Feeds (Shawville, Pembroke, Renfrew), they grind their mash on-site.

They may provide an ingredient list if I ask (I will) but nothing on the bag. It is $14/25kg bag. So far my pullets eat it up but I am not sure that means anything, time will tell. When I bought it I asked specifically for ground shells (calcium supplement I think). The gal gave a sweeping statement that their mash "had everything that was needed".

I accepted that statement at the time but have since come to realize that she is not the expert she seemed and also has fixed ideas that are not always correct (eg she refuses to believe that birds can go through a winter without heating the coop going so far as to say "I think of heat and light as the same thing."). I will find out what is in their mash and then ensure my birds get everything they need even if supplements are called for or switch to something else.

Well, between the two of us we are about to test this whole Woods coop in Canada thing!! I'm getting pretty nervous about it but hoping @aart will get to say "I told ya so!" once we get through it. Our first snow is expected end of week when we will rapidly drop from a nice fall 20° today to about 7° and snow on Friday, below 0° at night, in fact I think it is supposed to be -7° at night end of week. Ugghhh. If I had more birds to warm each other as you do I may not be so nervous but it is still looking like a whole lotta air for not a lotta bird to me I too have had a bunch of people look at me like I'm bat s#*t crazy when I say I'm not heating...and that the whole front of my coop is OPEN!!! LOL

 

[Ted Brown]

Well, between the two of us we are about to test this whole Woods coop in Canada thing!! I'm getting pretty nervous about it but hoping @aart will get to say "I told ya so!" once we get through it. Our first snow is expected end of week when we will rapidly drop from a nice fall 20° today to about 7° and snow on Friday, below 0° at night, in fact I think it is supposed to be -7° at night end of week. Ugghhh. If I had more birds to warm each other as you do I may not be so nervous but it is still looking like a whole lotta air for not a lotta bird to me I too have had a bunch of people look at me like I'm bat s#*t crazy when I say I'm not heating...and that the whole front of my coop is OPEN!!! LOL

I currently have seven birds so only 3 more than you and my coop is bigger so I figure we are in the same boat - lots of space and only a few little furnaces. If my incubation is successful there will be more but that introduces another complication of how much heat is supplied in their first six weeks when they need to have some "coolness" to encourage feather and down growth.

I am confident Woods will work, too many smart people have experience with them and advocate for the approach; also I am damn sure my grandfather (Saskatchewan farmer) did not spend money or effort to heat no chicken coop too many other things to do.

 

[so lucky]

@Ted Brown, I can't remember if you have this in your beautifully made coop, but I find chickens like a stump or maybe a box to jump up on first, before going on up to the roost. Also, as a mid-way stop on their way off the roost. Some don't use it, but some will.
Congratulations on your first eggs! More to come soon!