The birds were hatched in May. Blue, Black, Splash, and Wheaton , Blue Wheaton. Most of them came in from Paul/TX this year or from an Indiana breeder that got his lines in last year. (Shar at Flyaway Farms is not a member but has been working with her birds for 6 years now and has the groups lines Jean/Paul/Wayne)
Yes, they seemed to be huddled in the cage a lot, I would roust them out, but they were in a large mixed group of fowl with 5 Welsummer, guinea keets, 5 turkeys, and the 3 older Ameraucana cocks. EVERYTHING in that room started out last year as chicks except the 3 older cocks, so they all grew up together........I thought it was just the cocks/cockerels keeping them 'rounded up' at dusk.
I fed free choice in 3 different pans. I did notice that even the turkeys developed slower than normal schedule, too, even though there was always still some food in the pans when I out the next batch.
They are now in their own pen and will be getting 20% feed. Probably layer mix unless y'all advise grower.
They were in a well sheltered house with open windows and lots of body heat in that room as the water never froze and now they are outside on deep bedding straw with, plastic tarps, metal roofing around the sides of the pen , and a large plastic doghouse for extra heat preservation. They all stayed well grouped in the new shelter. So now they will be using more feed for keeping warm.
Most are in fair flesh and a splash and a blue wheaton are real rolly polly (big round heavy) butts. Out of 20 birds, there might be one or two that are underweight. But I suspect the group is mostly pullets and they seem smallish. Guess I will have to get out the scales and the camera next.....