Now or in the Spring????

[Chicken Boo]

I tried posting this under coop construction. This may be the better place.

Please help keep peace in the house.

We want to build a bigger and better coop. Right now I only have 1 production red laying. The other 9 are molting or haven't started yet. We plan to put the coop in the same place as the current coop which means moving the 1st coop while the new one is being built. This means 2 disruptions in the poor girls' routines. Would it be better to do it now before the weather get too cold and icky or wait until the weather starts to change in March/April? I am thinking we should just buckle down and do it now so that Alice is the only one affected with regard to laying. They are all going to be affected as to the move then a new home. Last year, the australorps began laying in March.

Anybody's 2 cents would be welcome. My DH is inclined to wait until spring; I am more inclined to start next week.

Thank you!

 

[TaLani]

I'm pretty new to the whole raising chickens thing in that we've only had chickens since the beginning of June, but I'd have to side with you 100%. Unless your hubby doesn't mind going w/o eggs come springtime, I'd do it NOW. It can take a month or MORE for the hens to feel settled if they've been moved from location to location. If you wait til spring then be prepared to have their laying cycles seriously disrupted. I know w/ as much time, not to mention money, that we put into our chickens, I want to reap the rewards (eggs) as much as possible. Knowing that hens normally slow down their egg production this time of yr w/ there being less sunlight and cool weather, it makes more sense for you to build your new coop NOW to me. Just my opinion

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[Pumpkinpup]

If it were me, I'd do it now while you won't be fouling up their laying later on.