There's about 30 linear feet of roosts plus the board above the nests, I'm still undecided about that.
Yup I was leaning, needed a ladder, it was getting dark, the screw was somewhat stripped. Basically it was an insurance commercial. Didn't hit the bone luckily but yes, ouch!
You got me there, the lights back on. I keep finding reasons to baby them just a little longer, mostly I hate them to get frostbite their first winter. That tiny 70 watt bulb isn't doing anything really about the temp, just controlling the comb area temps. Not really worried about the cold per se.
I'm trying. I turned it off and closed the brooder door last night when I was done. I was putting random babies that never go up, on the roosts throughout the day. Two of them went up at dark and sat on the edges of boards. The rest piled up on the floor. I went out and moved all but the very most timid up. Made them sit and snuck away. Hour later they were down. There was enough snow to brighten things up through that plastic wall that they moved. Opened doors. Fail.
Put them all up high this morning again for practice. Splash marans might not ever come down alone, she's really dumb.
Now I have to do a health post. Ugh.