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

[jthornton]

Have you tried it...with what kind of saw?

Dropped one...

JT

 

[aart]

Dropped one...

JT

Really?! From 6' onto concrete?

 

[Ted Brown]

Caught in the Act: 2nd egg of the day, now twice so obviously two laying regularly. Others seem to be on the verge, very interested in the goings on of those that lay?

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I received seven 19 week old ready to lay pullets a week ago Friday. Their coop was not ready so i kept them in a temporary non secured cage until last night when they were moved to their new secure coop. I wrapped the temporary cage with tarps each night to help deter predators, I also worried every night until they were moved.

A couple of questions:

1. A person at the store that supplied the pullets maintains that they would be stressed and would take some time to adjust, longer if they were subjected to multiple changes. She said it could be "up to a year" before they would lay.

We are complete novices so have no experience to guide. @jthornton suggested giving them things to keep them occupied; we have done so: treats (fern leaves, fruits, etc.) multiple times per day; a roost bar with ramp on day two; a dust bath (gravel and ash) a couple of days later. We also feed them morning and night and use the opportunity to touch them, talk to them... After a few days they would come to the end of the cage we approached and wait expectantly for whatever we had to offer. After we moved them to the new coop their behaviors did not seem to change, no sign of apprehension/fear, anxious to see what we have brought them, crowding to the opening at the front when we approach, soft cooing (?), occasional clucks.

We think they are fine and adapting well but do not know what the signs of a stressing bird are.

2. They are not using the roosts I have provided rather stay on the floor and either scratch and fling bits about or settle down into the straw looking like they are nesting or at night cluster together in one front corner.

Normal? How do we train them to use the roost (go in after dark and lift/place them on the roost bars)?

Thoughts and input greatly appreciated.

They will probably start laying in a month or two. Usually they start laying at about a five or six months so I don’t think yours are old enough yet. You can tell when they are going to start laying because their combs and wattles will turn bright red. They will also start to squat when you walk by. From the photos you posted, looks like you have a really nice set up, but the combs and the wattles of your pullets do not look red yet.

 

[DoeAndGander]

Congrats on your first eggs! And great looking coop. My Fab Four had a roost since they were a week old and it still took them a bit to roost on the big coop roost. I found it helped to give a few treats up there as well as everything else you’re doing.

 

[Ted Brown]

They will probably start laying in a month or two. Usually they start laying at about a five or six months so I don’t think yours are old enough yet. You can tell when they are going to start laying because their combs and wattles will turn bright red. They will also start to squat when you walk by. From the photos you posted, looks like you have a really nice set up, but the combs and the wattles of your pullets do not look red yet.

We have two that are laying now, the others closely watching. 3 or 4 have red combs/wattles the rest still a beige colour.

The squat info very useful I will have to keep an eye peeled. Thank you.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

We have two that are laying now, the others closely watching. 3 or 4 have red combs/wattles the rest still a beige colour.

The squat info very useful I will have to keep an eye peeled. Thank you.

Great! I just sort of read the first page, so I didn’t see that you are getting eggs, but congratulations!

 

[Ted Brown]

Guess this is proof that M&R Feeds is a serious supplier; analysis of ingredients used in the own dry mash. Anything I should supplement with?

 

[aart]

Interesting they say it's perishable, but there's nor MFG date there or on the bags?
Would be good to see the ingredients.
You'll need starter feed for your chicks.....and might as well feed it to the adults too, many of us here do that.

 

[Ted Brown]

No date on the bag I just checked again; good catch on the "Perishable" contradiction I missed that.

The sheet you looked at says an ingredient list is available, sister will follow up tomorrow to ask for it.

We are in the midst of the starter food discussion, BIL was at M&R Feeds today for discussion and written literature. Angie (agent) explained that both medicated and non-medicated versions were available; also said some people feed chicks medicated for one week and then to switch to non-medicated; the printed literature says "4-6 weeks" for either and then switch to a lower protein (adult?) feed.

Any/all advice greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your above!