Re: Building coop
From: Jill. (news_at_REMOVETHISkintaline.co.uk)
Date: 12/30/04
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Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 09:32:43 -0000
KSL wrote:
> Joel,
>
> What is the basis for your not wanting them to sleep in the nesting
> boxes?
Because they then poop in it - and you get dirty eggs.
They are also better roosting - otherwise they can potentially damage their
keel
Roosting bars should be away from the nest boxes
Many young birds that have been reared in barns have not met a roost bar
before so it can take some patience to teach them. [ a quick look at the
site suggests that this is exactly what you have - commercial birds- the
ISA Brown. These types rarely get perches to use so sometimes can be more
difficult to teach.
>
> Is there a good reason to try to get them to go back to roosting on
> the bar and, if so, how does one achieve that?
Ideally you would make sure the bar is away from the nestboxes - is around 2
inches in diameter and about 18" - 2ft off the ground. The house you have
you are not going to be able to achieve that I don't think. From the
pictures there is not enough room for a separate roosting bar as most houses
have. If you raise them up any more then they are going to be very cramped.
For those who can :-
At night when its dark lift each bird from its box and put its feet on to
the perch. Gently but firmly hold while it gets its balance and latches on.
It may take some days or occasionally even weeks !
>
> BTW, they seem to be happy, if egg production is any measure. We got
> 54 eggs in November and in the thirty days thus far in December we
> have had 58 eggs. How big is the risk of affecting the egg
> production if I try to change their habits?
The type of bird you have are ones that are bred to lay -- they are the ones
used in battery units and the other major commercial systems. From your
figures they were obviously in lay when you got them - probably at least
26 - 30 weeks old. At this stage it takes quite a bit to turn them off :~))
they are genetically little egg laying machines. 99% of their cousins and
sisters will never see a perch so with the house size you have you may just
have to go with the flow.
-- regards Jill Bowis Pure bred utility chickens and ducks Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery Holidays in Scotland and Wales http://www.kintaline.co.uk
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