To Roost Or Not To Roost

[woolychicken]

i have 19 hens and 1 rooster. just as of late i have seen my chickens falling asleep on the dirt floor.

the heat lamps are over the roost and i put fresh straw on them at night. my roost are very close together they make more of a platform them roost i have never seen them do this usally they will all climb the ladder and find a spot and off to dream land. so whats up?
THEY ALSO WENT FROM LAYING 13-18 EGSS A DAY TO JUST 12 COULD THEY BE COMEING INTO A MOLT?

IF SO I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT HIGH PROTINE TURKEY GROWER NON MEDICATED IS WHAT I SHOULD FEED THEM . BLACK OIL SUNFLOWER SEEDS GREENS AND COOKED PINTO BEANS???

 

[LilBizzy]

It's very normal for egg production to drop as days are shorter and weather is colder. My girls went from 10-12 eggs a day to 4-6. One is actually going through a moult, but the others are not.
Now, as for them sleeping on the floor, Is it possible that it is too warm under the heat lamp? If they are old enough to lay, they may not need the heat lamp depending on where you are located. We have had temps between 10 and 20 degrees for the past 2 weeks, and mine have done fine with no added heat. In one coop, there is tons of ventilation, and only 3 chickens(one of which is molting) and I thought for sure they would be freezing, but they aren't.
You might try to raise the heat lamp, or move it a little further from the roosts to see if that helps. I would also check their legs and feet- just to ensure there is nothing that might prevent them from jumping up on the roosts.
If they were moulting, there would be a whole lot more feathers laying around. And they would probably get closer to the heat to keep warm.

 

[gritsar]

I agree in that it may be too hot for them on the roosts, under the heat lamp. Also agree that if they are grown and your temps. don't drop below freezing for days on end, they probably don't need heat.

 

[woolychicken]

i think that's it

i will move the heat lamps.
I 've been so concern they would be cold it did not occour to me they would be too hot

everyones legs look great no problems there