If there are laying hens already living in the coop, close the nest boxes off (with cardboard, plywood, etc.) in the afternoon after egg-laying is finished for the day and open them back up first thing in the morning. Chicks that are too warm will move as far from the lamp as the brooder ring will. By 17-18 weeks of age, the boxes can be opened for business. A heat lamp will keep the temperature with in the ideal range of 90- 95. Avoiding the behavior is much easier than trying to break the habit. Blocking physical access to the nest boxes prior to the move prevents the chicks from getting into the habit of sleeping in them. That means that their chick down is gone and they have grown real feathers. Droppings soil freshly laid eggs and increase the risk of illness from their consumption even if they are washed. In general, most chicks are fully-feathered by 6 weeks of age. Sleeping chickens are pooping chickens and while the habit of sleeping in nest boxes may not be a problem initially, when they begin egg-laying, it will be. I don’t feel its natural and I don’t want to force them to lay if their bodies want to take a break. As long as the temperature at the edge of the heat lamp or brooder stove is. Upon arrival in the coop, the initial inclination of stressed chicks is to hide and nest boxes provide a natural refuge for scared chicks. Exposing a chick to cool temperatures in the first three weeks of life makes.
0 kommentar(er)
