Odd behavior

[chickens really]

Hello...Possibly they developed the habit of Roosting outside..Now you have to herd them in each night to retrain them to roost in the Coop...Try that for a week..Close the pop door each night and let them out in the morning...

Also bad egg production could be that the feed is not high enough in protein..Layers do best on 18% protein with minimal scraps and less free range time...Also never run out of water...I feed grower all year and supply egg shell in a separate bowl..

 

[ChickenGirl555]

This would make sense if it hadn't been a mass exodus and some of them are at the top of the pecking order. My Brahma is 4 1/2 yrs old and is the queen of the flock.

Yes, even if the pecking order was good before, it will probably change with the pullets coming in, and the rooster may be bugged by the cockerel

 

[MarySue]

I feed layer feed plus omega3 and either All Flock, Flock Raiser or Feather Fixer. They have both available all the time and they free range only when I am home. So they will get 3 hours today they had none yesterday.

 

[MarySue]

 

[junebuggena]

I feed layer feed plus omega3 and either All Flock, Flock Raiser or Feather Fixer. They have both available all the time and they free range only when I am home. So they will get 3 hours today they had none yesterday.

Layer feed and feather fixer both have way too much calcium for males and non-laying birds. Flock raiser with crushed oyster shell offered separately will provide all the nutrition everybody needs and make things much simpler. All flock and layer feed tend to be low in protein which can cause feather picking and may be contributing to some birds refusing to use the coop.

 

[MarySue]

Layer feed and feather fixer both have way too much calcium for males and non-laying birds. Flock raiser with crushed oyster shell offered separately will provide all the nutrition everybody needs and make things much simpler. All flock and layer feed tend to be low in protein which can cause feather picking and may be contributing to some birds refusing to use the coop.

I have two different feeders for the two types of feed. My roo is a giant blue cochin and is indeed a very large boy. When we made the feeders we made the openings for the first one with 3 in holes and he doesn't like to put his head in it so I put the layer feed in there. The second one we built we used 4 in holes so that he would be comfortable putting his head in it and I only put the other feed in there. Because of the molt it has Feather Fixer in it right now.

 

[lazy gardener]

Possibilities why chickens won't sleep in the coop include: red mite infestation, predator or rodent activity, high ammonia levels, other birds in the flock won't let them inside.

I would add to that list: crowding, lack of roost space, birds not feeling safe.

If I am reading and interpreting correctly, it sounds like you have 33 birds and a coop that is 8 x 9, though I can't figure out how you get that foot print using a truck cap (which BTW I love the idea of repurposing a truck cap!) It looks like from your pic, you have 3 perches, each about 4' wide. Am I correct? That's enough perch space for 12 birds. Flock mentality being what it is, they are apt to abandon the coop so they can all perch together.

One other ?: What is the mill date of your feed? If it is over 6 weeks, the nutrients could be degraded to the point that the nutrition is lacking.

 

[MarySue]

One other ?: What is the mill date of your feed? If it is over 6 weeks, the nutrients could be degraded to the point that the nutrition is lacking.

I have no idea! Never thought to look. I buy it at the feed store, throw it in the feeders.

I know that we are too crowded, as I said early on we are planning to build a 12x24 just takes time and $$$. Not all the flock sleep in the coop. I bring the 3 Silkies and my lame hen Annie in at night, I have dog crates set up in my house. I allow my cockerel and two young pullets to sleep in the rafters of the canopy when it's not freezing. The infrastructure is steel pipe, don't want their feeties to freeze. I would have no problem letting those who wish to sleep out in the run and in the dog house (part of the run) but they are just not as safe as in the coop. I have an automatic door that closes at night and they are completely protected. Not as secure in the run. It is not built the way I would be happy with but sometimes when hubby is involved you gotta comprise especially when he's the one building. I guess I will try bringing all the youngsters into the enclosure we made for Annie and see if that brings more relief.

 

[MarySue]

So it sounds to me like you guys suspect it's overcrowding and not any kind of predatory thing?

 

[lazy gardener]

Based on the pic, going only by that, I'd say they lack appropriate roost space, and do not have enough coop room. The 4 s.f./bird recommendation is a bare minimum. If you have integration, roosters, or multi age birds I recommend even more space.