New to Chickens - Question(s)

[aart]

Agrees with 21HIC!

Just keep chipping away...a coop is almost never actually done-done.
Always little improvements that can or need to be made.

 

[TexasSam]

Well - I almost don't want to post a picture as it fails to compare to most of the pictures of coops I have seen here - but it is done - well almost. I still need to add some roosts and maybe a different laying box.

I had to put them in the coop, but they went into the nest box on their own when it was about to get dark. The chicken was very curious about what was being built throughout - the Rooster, does not trust me at all. She did not lay an egg for us yesterday, but she did today. Yesterday was the only day she missed laying an egg.

View attachment 1156778

 

[TexasSam]

Looks great. They will be comfortable there for the short amount of time they will be there. They only have to stay there for a few days and then you can let them out during the day and they will go back at night. No they have a safe dry place that will keep them warm when it is cold

 

[Enchanted1s]

Thank you all for your encouragement and assistance. SO - this morning I was not feeling good and my better half had to go open the door this morning. Apparently she was not listening - instead of just pulling open the door to the nest box - she also thought they should be let out of the coop and into the pen

I guess after I get enough wood split for the fire tonight I will be catching chickens - again. At least that is getting easier - yesterday the Rooster got out of the pen. He saw me with my net and freaked - he ended up jumping into the net! From inside the pen - I didn't even have to use the net with the hen - she just went into the new coop on her own. Once in the coop - they both got into there nest box on their own. Pretty good since last night was the first night the coop was fully enclosed. It was the 2nd night with the nest box raised and in its new location (I really only moved it East about 1 foot and up about 2 feet.)

 

[21hens-incharge]

Perhaps the hen will head in at dusk on her own!

Keep the doors open so they can go in and they just might.

 

[TexasSam]

Perhaps the hen will head in at dusk on her own!

Keep the doors open so they can go in and they just might.

In addition to this keep the food and water inside the pen so they get used to going in and out

 

[lazy gardener]

Nice job. Eventually, you might want to turn that run into a deep litter run. That way, if you need to pen them up if a predator comes calling, they will have plenty to amuse themselves with.

 

[TexasSam]

Guess who finally layed her first egg

 

[Enchanted1s]

So - our pair is going to the coop on their own AND into the nest box at night. HOWEVER - she has not laid a single egg since the walk-in coop was completed. Her last egg was the last day of construction, while they were out in the pen. I kept them in the coop - letting them in and out of the nest at dusk and dawn, for a week. Yesterday was their first day out in the pen and today I let the roam free for the first time since the storms - and being in the tiny coop.

Do they stop laying when it gets colder? Should I start a new thread with new questions?? I forget who warned me about her using the laying box for sleeping and pooping... that is exactly what she did. I built her a separate laying box - but it was about 2 days before I got it up for her. Thanks all for the tips, advise and encouragement. Oh yes... I did buy her some Laying food and they (or the squirrels, ground hogs) are eating it. I have added some perches since the picture.

 

[aart]

I think your terms are a little confusing.
Coop(where they sleep) is to the left and red box is the nest?
Fenced area surrounding coop and nest would be called the run or pen.

Nest needs a perch about 8" in front of nest for her to jump to before entering nest.

Days are getting shorter(if you're in the northern hemisphere),
that is what triggers cessation of lay and molting.
Adding your location to your profile can be a big help to better answers.