New Flock isn't laying or roosting - please help

[Onyxflock]

Well here are a couple pics from how the girls are looking today. We are 2 weeks in now, and it could just be wishful thinking, but they seem to be looking a little better. Their butts are still pretty bare, but I think they may be a bit more feathery. There were a couple using the dust bath this morning, but I disturbed them. Also included a pic of my new upgraded roosting rail with poop rail/box. I hope they like it one day when they are brave enough to go up there. I have some hope though, as there was a poop about a third of the way up the ladder this morning. Also got an egg this morning. Going to have it for breakfast!

They look much better than they did.

 

[Onyxflock]

if There not laying try switching them to a Dane bird feed which is 20% protein instead of layer feed which is 16% going this got my hens that stopped laying for a month to lay five eggs a week each when they start laying switch back to a layer feed other then that they might just need to adjust yo there home just keep a good eye on there health

That's a great idea. Regular layer feed may be lacking the extra boost they need to get strong.

 

[Phil2018]

How much light are they getting? Hens need 14 hours of light to get the hormones to the correct level. Our girls stop laying in the dead of winter and have just now started laying again and we are Nor California.

If you want chickens to lay in the winter, you need to add artificial light to the coop. It should really be early morning hour light rather later in the evening.
Good luck.

 

[sneakytoes02]

Update on my girls. I have lost 3 of 24, they were healthy as far as sickness goes, but just couldn't make the change. Vet said that happens quite often. He's seen as many as 1 in 3 not make it after rescue. I am very sad though, they seemed to be doing so well.

On a brighter note of the 21 girls I have left, 2 are now using the nesting boxes, just started a couple day's ago! I'm so proud of them. And they have started scratching on the ground for treats that I put out for them. Still not getting many eggs, but their feathers are getting better everyday, and they are sounding like chickens now. I have to say the first days were weird, virtually no noises from them at all, very worrying. One even came over and pecked some snow off my boot this morning, she is the adventurous one. I believe she is also the one of the ones using the nesting boxes. I caught one of the girls checking out the boxes yesterday morning, and she just glared at me till I left. When I went back later there was an egg in the box. Wanted to scoop her up and hug her, but they still don't like to be touched much. Gave them some chopped apple instead.
All that said, they seem to be making great progress, and I'm starting to see little changes every day. We've had a late winter storm roll through here, and it -24C today, so none of the animals are very happy, and we have 6" of new snow...boo...but things are looking up.
Thank you all for your encouragement and advice, I will keep you posted on progress. Looking forward to spring when I can update you all with pictures of my girls outside on the grass for the first time.

 

[pozees2]

It is sad the three didn't make it, but it sounds as though the rest are finally settling in and being chickens, and that's wonderful. Can't wait to see pics of them on grass.

 

[gtaus]

It's so good to hear the updates and that your chickens are starting to come around. Sounds like your rescue might be a great success. Hope to hear more good news in the future.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

My XH and I rescued a dozen or so "spent" white Leghorns from a battery in southern CO once, years ago. They were traumatized, skinny little things, had never seen sun, sky, or grass. We integrated them with our normal, mixed flock and it wasn't long before they learned "the ropes", were pecking and scratching and eating bugs with the best of them and laying nice white eggs like champs! "Healthy eggs from Happy Hens," i said, and they surely were.

 

[Peppercorngal]

I just wanted to pop in and say that I was given 6 hens over a year old that were also kept in cages all their lives before coming to me. They didn't roost, they didn't lay in a box, all the same issues. It took some time, but they began to get curious and started using the nest boxes and later roosting as well. If you are concerned about feed, do what I do. When I feel my chickens are stressed by weather or molting I give them a dish is 24% chick finisher a couple times per week. They act like it's candy or something and love it! I'm sure your girls will pick up this spring and in no time surprise you with roosting too! If you sit out with them this summer they may want to jump up and check to out as well! Thanks for rescuing them!!

 

[Buckeye Amy]

This thread is encouraging to read! I hope the hens are progressing nicely now. Tonight, my son and I adopted/rescued 8 two year old hens from a coworker who was tired of keeping chickens and was going to butcher them. There are 6 black Australorps, a Wyandotte, and a mixed breed hen. They are all very robust and healthy, but lack the desire to roost. After evaluating his coop setup, I think the problem was they didn't have enough room to get up on the roosts. They didn't use the nest boxes much but I think they weren't the right design either.

The new hens are sleeping on the floor of my coop, which is much larger than their old home. I am hoping that they will see my birds use the roosts for sleeping and hop up happily to lay eggs in the cozy nest boxes. They've already found the feed and water, which are completely different to what they were using in their old coop. Chickens are indeed very curious and excellent at figuring out things given time and patience.

Best wishes to the OP! You are indeed a good chicken mom!

 

[gtaus]

They are all very robust and healthy, but lack the desire to roost.

Joel Salatine, another YouTube favorite of mine, raises commercial laying chickens in a large barn type enclosure and does not use any roosts at all for his birds. He just lets them sleep on the deep litter. He stated that he used to have roosts for his chickens, but half never used the roosts anyway. So now he just lets them all sleep on the deep litter and it works out better for him.

All my chickens use a roost bar for sleeping at night, but I suppose I would not be too concerned if some did not use the roost. As long as they appear happy and healthy, it's all good for me.

Here is the YouTube video of Joel Salatine and his winter setup for chickens where he is asked specifically about not having any roosts in his barn....