Stupid Newbie Question

[WhatAboutBob?]

I keep bedding below front of nest....maybe add more wood to front?

Interesting. I have zero wood in the front of the boxes, until the edge where there is about an inch lip. I will get a picture of the crafted nests in there tonight or tomorrow with the lid up. At this point I am getting 4 eggs a day on average.

 

[Mrs. K]

If it is working for you, don't worry about it. I have a lip on mine, but it is not too deep.

Love getting those first eggs, even yet! Beautiful set up!

 

[aart]

If it is working for you, don't worry about it.

Agrees, it just looks precarious....and I'm never one to shy away from asking to satisfy my curiosity.

 

[WhatAboutBob?]

Here are some pics of the nest boxes as I found them today. Like I said, I removed about an inch of material as I did have too much in there after replenishing it yesterday. Yup, 4 more eggs today. The flock survived the weather last night just fine, yay!

 

[WhatAboutBob?]

Here is an updated pic of one of the Wyandottes that are laying now.

 

[WhatAboutBob?]

@aart Another update! You asked about outside the coop. That got me thinking. I had just a plain old 2x6 ramp. After the big freeze and ice up, none were venturing out. Something had to change, so I fixed some treads/cleats on the ramp and violá, we have birds out in the run once again!

This is a pic of my youngest GLW, Amy Roloff. She is now the only one not at POL as far as I can tell. The poor girl has lost her tail feathers to Bob’s advances,LOL.

Here is Amelia, she is the 1st POL Wyandotte and the most under Bob's wing. This is the first time she has been outside the coop on her own accord.

Bob survived the terrible weather with minimal tip frostbite, so I am happy with my setup so far. Integration continues to progress, and I expect once the last comes to POL they will start roosting together as one unit.

 

[WhatAboutBob?]

Here is a close up of Bob's Comb.

 

[aart]

Is your run covered.....or did you shovel some of it out??

Willie has not fared so well...this happened before the last thaw, Thaw Two started today......anxious to see how much of this he loses.

 

[WhatAboutBob?]

Is your run covered.....or did you shovel some of it out??

Willie has not fared so well...this happened before the last thaw, Thaw Two started today......anxious to see how much of this he loses.

View attachment 1240847

Oh ouch! Willie’s comb is much more prodigious than Bob’s, I can see where he would be more at risk of bite. My run is open,not covered. I did shovel a 15x20 foot (approximately) area for them to venture into. I also am dumping old bedding material in that area, to help make it more attractive to them to come out.

 

[WhatAboutBob?]

Another update for my reference. The flock is fully integrated and all pullets are now laying. Here is a pic from earlier today.