Pullet Training Academy?

[rosemarythyme]

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Are those low roost bars actually usable? It's a lot of bars but they look somewhat close together, but maybe it's just the photos making them look closer than they are? Do you know how close/far the bars are apart?

How many chickens total do you have at this time? Sounds like you've integrated before(?) and did you have issues before?

 

[beegirl950]

The roost bars are 2 inches in diameter which is proper for chicken feet and are 12 inches apart on center. They are spaced so that no chicken is able to defecate on another. And at the moment I have 7 hens but the most that I have ever had in my big coop was 30. The chickens roost facing the windows. I lost a lot of chickens during the Covid 19 lockdown because my inconsiderate neighbor let her pack of pit bulls roam at large and they just picked off my free roaming chickens. Despite my calls to the law she finally got rid of them when they took down her relatives' pony. The family clans around here say "if you don't like the neighborhood....move".

As far as integrating, my problem is that the pullets crowd into the nest boxes and crap all over the inside of the nest boxes. And because of the dangers that my unique mountain property has from neighborhood dogs and the coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions and other wildlife, I like to keep the little pullets contained until they get to be 16 to 24 weeks for their own safety. Size matters.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Since the main concern is pooping in the nests, covering them before nightfall and then removing them once it's completely dark should make a big difference. They can learn to roost later on, but sleep on the floor for now.

12" from roost to roost is tight to me but sounds like it has worked for you in the past so you know birds can use it without issue.

 

[beegirl950]

Our 8 wk old chicks escaped the dog crate on Thursday and instant integration with older birds, went out to drop the chicken door at dusk and all 4 were on the lower roosting bar with the older birds on top bar. They started roosting on the feeder and waterer in the crate. It's instinct. Get high or get eaten.

Well my chicks are about 5 to 6 weeks and I am trying to train everyone to go into the pen at dusk. But to add to my troubles is a broody hen without a rooster, so I am going to seperate her. I got some roosters coming on. but they are 3 weeks old.....

 

[beegirl950]

I built my Pullet House and it is working out great. I wanted something that would work to integrate them into the big coop and also protect them for a month while they grew from 4 to 8 weeks (I have some really mean big hens, specifically a Sapphire Gem and a HUGE Blue Laced Red Wyandotte.) and to train them with roost bars. There is another part of this set-up that you do not see. There is a door in the side of the coop. On one side is the new pullet coop and small run, on the other side is a large steel dog cage. For the first 2 weeks they can see the big hens. The second two weeks, the dog cage door is open and the pullets have the opportunity to explore the big house and they are also free to roam outside all coops. The new house is temporary, light enough to move with the tractor, and small enough to store in the garage or under the lean to when not in use. I used parts of an old coop to give them air. The black side is my future canvas. I am painting 3 head portraits of favorite chickens on the bottom space and lettering on the upper right that will read "last one in is a rotten egg" I am moving out 10 pullets into the big house. And moving in, in a few days another batch of 4 week olds.

 

[beegirl950]

Update: I checked in on my young pullets at midnight. All were on the lower two roost bars except 2 who were hanging at the entrance. And there were none in the nest boxes. Mission accomplished. Yay.