New Flock isn't laying or roosting - please help

[Henanigan]

On cold days my hens sit in their coop and never come out. I was so worries sick wondering what had happened but on warm days thry are happy and chirpy.

 

[sneakytoes02]

Were they kept inside a warm(er) building?
Are these 'rescue' birds from a production facility?
I wouldn't expect them to lay anytime soon.
Feed them well, and time will tell.

Yes, rescue birds never been outside of a cage before I brought them home.

 

[Hua Moa]

Here is a pic of some of my girls the day they arrived. We still have snow on the ground, but it was plus 2. I don't think they had ever touched the ground before. The poor girls are so terrible looking with their bear bums, and scruffy feathers.View attachment 2038184

 

[Hua Moa]

do they have mites? No butt feathers and other feathers in bad shape makes me wonder. They are lucky they have you for TLC

 

[gtaus]

Good idea. We don't have that much snow, but I will give shoveling a try. And put down some straw.

The snow in my chicken run was over 2 feet deep. So I did shovel a patch for the chickens to get out of the coop and down on the ground. Unfortunately, my chickens had no desire to set foot on that white stuff. So I opened a bag of fall leaves and spread it out on the patch I had shoveled. Then they came out and walked on the leaves. I then also threw some leaves on the 2 foot deep snow in the chicken run and the chickens will jump up there and walk on the leaves. They just don't want to set foot on the snow itself.

Next winter I am planning on having either an A-Frame or cattle panel dome hoop house over the part of the chicken run that aligns with the pop door. That way the snow should fall off to the sides and inside the A-Frame or Cattle Panel dome there should be nice, snow-free, chicken run to enjoy all winter. My chickens do not mind the cold so much, but they just don't want anything to do with walking on the snow.

Another thing I learned is that my dog kennel panel gate would not fully open after the first heavy snowfall. The problem, of course, is that the gate goes down almost all the way to the ground. Packed snow and ice build up on the ground really fast and even though I used a shovel, I can only get the gate half way open. I was considering using my snow blower in the chicken run to blow out the snow, but I was unable to open the gate wide enough to get the snow blower in the run. I could barely squeeze myself through the gate. I am currently working on chicken run gate designs for winter that open maybe a foot above the ground level. That would let me shovel the snow down enough and the gate should be unobstructed for opening. At least I could get into the chicken run easily, if needed.

Nothing like having to experience a winter with your birds to adjust your thinking on how to care for them. Hope you update this thread after you shovel the run and lay down some straw for them. Would be nice to know if they responded positively to the straw in the run.

 

[GC-Raptor]

The problem, of course, is that the gate goes down almost all the way to the ground. Packed snow and ice build up on the ground really fast and even though I used a shovel, I can only get the gate half way open.

I have a similar problem with my dog kennel run for my second Flock.
When we get rain, then a cold snap soon after, the ground swells and prevents the gate from opening all the way.

. Fortunately the gate swings both ways and inside the pen the ground is lower.
This is a photo from last June when there was plenty of lush vegetation. GC

 

[sneakytoes02]

The snow in my chicken run was over 2 feet deep. So I did shovel a patch for the chickens to get out of the coop and down on the ground. Unfortunately, my chickens had no desire to set foot on that white stuff. So I opened a bag of fall leaves and spread it out on the patch I had shoveled. Then they came out and walked on the leaves. I then also threw some leaves on the 2 foot deep snow in the chicken run and the chickens will jump up there and walk on the leaves. They just don't want to set foot on the snow itself.

Next winter I am planning on having either an A-Frame or cattle panel dome hoop house over the part of the chicken run that aligns with the pop door. That way the snow should fall off to the sides and inside the A-Frame or Cattle Panel dome there should be nice, snow-free, chicken run to enjoy all winter. My chickens do not mind the cold so much, but they just don't want anything to do with walking on the snow.

Another thing I learned is that my dog kennel panel gate would not fully open after the first heavy snowfall. The problem, of course, is that the gate goes down almost all the way to the ground. Packed snow and ice build up on the ground really fast and even though I used a shovel, I can only get the gate half way open. I was considering using my snow blower in the chicken run to blow out the snow, but I was unable to open the gate wide enough to get the snow blower in the run. I could barely squeeze myself through the gate. I am currently working on chicken run gate designs for winter that open maybe a foot above the ground level. That would let me shovel the snow down enough and the gate should be unobstructed for opening. At least I could get into the chicken run easily, if needed.

Nothing like having to experience a winter with your birds to adjust your thinking on how to care for them. Hope you update this thread after you shovel the run and lay down some straw for them. Would be nice to know if they responded positively to the straw in the run.

I didn't think of the snow either when building our run, but I did put the door about 14" up of the ground as I hoped this would help keep fox from digging in, and birds from escaping when I opened the door. Got lucky that it worked out for winter as well.

 

[sneakytoes02]

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!

 

[aart]

Also included a pic of my new upgraded roosting rail with poop rail/box.

Is roost at least 12" away from the wall?
Those funky feathers won't really improve until they molt they grow new ones.

 

[Birdsong 82]

Oh ... well that's a little different story. I should have checked that