New nesting boxes...no cockerels allowed!

[Duckfarmer1]

All right then, let's talk about integrating the fifteen-week olds with the adult flock. I've skimmed the thread but can't seem to find where you tell us how many adults you have and how old they are. That info would help decrease the amount of erroneous advice some of us are going to try to provide.

Many of us do not wait until chicks are grown to integrate them with an adult flock. The reason is that the older they get, chicks become more of a challenge to the social order, while the younger they are, the less impact they have on the flock's individuals.

I brood in my run so the chicks and adults are integrating as the chicks grow and mature. The chicks are safely mingling with the adults by age two weeks, using a panic room setup as a safe refuge.

As the chicks reach the age of approximately ten weeks, they are very much a part of the flock. However, they do still need a bit of safety in the way of places to eat in peace and rest without being ambushed by a ornery bully who thinks picking on youngsters is great sport and high entertainment.

At ten weeks they are too large for their panic room so I provide an elevated platform where their food is located. This assures they always get enough to eat and develop self confidence to hold their own against even the most determined bully. These pullets pictured are now seven months old and no longer require this special feeding platform.View attachment 1952207

Ok, we bought the 15 week ones Aug 1 and had time to plan a coop, etc..then on aug 15 I was contacted about rescuing animals from a bad farmer who was sent to jail. Two days later we were bringing hoe tons of animals. So, from there we got 11 hens and 1 BR rooster..then we were given a pullet about five months.leg horn. I think 9 of the hens are RIR. And the other two are lighter tan..I’ll put pictures..I don’t know ages of them but they are good layers except one gives us pullet eggs every so often..before we got the leg horn...she didn’t know how to use the nest box and gave nice eggs..now she uses it. The chickens had no space where we got them..and we had no clue how to build a coop, etc..no time with all the animals we got. So, the nest boxes are outside of the coop..8boxes. But the coop is only 4’ high...we didn’t know we needed to walk in....because the nest boxes are enclosed and outside they are higher than roosts but it doesn’t matter. The run turned into a coop. It’s 21’x10’. Three roost bars but they only use one. Once we realized everything ou giant “play area” has now turned into their run. We have intentions of lifting the roof in the spring but it’s too much now. The 15 week old 2 pullets and 5cockerels share fence andthey are 8’ x18’. Same thing...it was meant to be coop/ run......they have two roosts use one...the nest boxes are inside and adjacent to roost...not enclosed. These guys are free range all day because they are tame.

 

[Ted_Harrell]

You have a nice setup for your birds...

 

[Duckfarmer1]

You have a nice setup for your birds...

Are you talking to me? We just slapped it together. I can’t stand up in it. Hmmm here’s more pictures to see about how to integrate the young ones Ok it’s at the back of our house. The tin roof isn’t closed in because of the daylight. It’s really hard to see how they are seemed together since it’s inside. And then the nest boxes are the giant yellow lids made out old truck bed sides. Lol

 

[Duckfarmer1]

Ok..took a picture..you can’t see a thing..but maybe it’ll give you an idea

View attachment 1952379 View attachment 1952380 View attachment 1952381 View attachment 1952382 View attachment 1952383 View attachment 1952384
Are you talking to me? We just slapped it together. I can’t stand up in it. Hmmm here’s more pictures to see about how to integrate the young ones Ok it’s at the back of our house. The tin roof isn’t closed in because of the daylight. It’s really hard to see how they are seemed together since it’s inside. And then the nest boxes are the giant yellow lids made out old truck bed sides. Lol

Ok these I just added that look like a piano are what we did yesterday. But it’s because we know it’s temporary. So. It’s not great. But will it do the job until we integrate or do we need to enclose. Or whatever

 

[tacothechicken]

You obviously have area and such so i agree your boys are just getting acquainted for future reference and it probably won't be an issue, if it is. id suspect the cause would be bullying, which can be solved simply by giving more roosts to choose from.

 

[aart]

Ok these I just added that look like a piano are what we did yesterday. But it’s because we know it’s temporary. So. It’s not great. But will it do the job until we integrate or do we need to enclose. Or whatever

Roosts should be higher than nests.
Enclosing nests will keep them cleaner and they will feel 'safer' to the layers.
The chicken wire and plastic mesh is not predator proof.
I hope that metal roofing is well supported underneath so it doesn't fail under snow load.

 

[Duckfarmer1]

Well, my husband was a contractor so the roof should be ok,but I’ll talk to him...we can easily enclose those those boxes...the young ones actually don’t roost on that show bar anymore....in the way back there’s none of the orange plastic and they fly up to the cross beam...it’s enclosed with chicken wire but higher..not was intended as roost...lol.