Yorkshire Pudding Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Hello all, I have only had my Elgu and chickens for a few days - the chooks came from a local farm with good husbandry, but were previously barn chickens in artificial light. As a result they don't know they have to go into the Eglu when it gets dark (although they do go in to lay). They just crouch on the grass in the frost and threaten to turn into frozen chickens. For the last few nights we've gently pushed them in with a soft, flat mop head, extending the handle by gaffer taping it to a rake handle. Good thing our garden isn't overlooked! Has anyone else had this problem? How long will it take the chickens to learn about roosting in the Eglu? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 yes, for obvious reasons (see my signature). We had to wrangle them into the coop for 2-3 days, they soon got the hang of it, they now put themselves to bed as soon as it gets dark with no fuss whatsoever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted December 16, 2007 Author Share Posted December 16, 2007 Thanks very much for your reply. I had visions of chicken-wrangling for months to come, but if my ladies are like yours we should be able to pop down and just shut them in soon. They also have a few bald patches - one of their original group was a feather-pecker - but I am going to try the advice from other owners and give them a little cat food to see if they feather up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 You could also try shining a torch through the hatch to encourage them to go in. Welcome to the Forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 last night our little brats (er sorry, chooks ) would not go to bed everytime we went outside to shut the cube door, one of them was sat on the ladder and ended up outside (totally unwilling to go in ) we tried 5 times to put them to bed, and failed in the end I gave them some weetabix and raisins, hoping that they would have full tummys and get ready to snuggle and sleep. I had gone to bed by the time that kev had got them into the cube. typical, one of the coldest nights on the year and one of them (in fact I think that they all had a go ) decided that they were not going to bed and were going to stay up for an "all nighter" cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 They will get the hang of it.....eventually. Nil desperandum. Just persevere with the Heath Robinson gadget you have invented for the time being. Welcome to the forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted December 16, 2007 Author Share Posted December 16, 2007 I went down the garden, chicken-shover in hand, to find... Two snuggly warm chickens INSIDE the eglu! You were all quite right - they got the idea quite fast in the end. If I'm lucky they'll be tamed just as quickly and I'll be able to have a cuddle for Christmas. Everyone loves them - the neighbours are envious, the kids delighted, husband amused, me just plain besotted and planning a flock. Only the cat is resisting their charms - poor Marmite is terrified! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Whereabouts in Leeds are you. My daughter lives in Chapel Allerton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 My ex-bats took about 3 days to get the hang of it. After 2 weeks they've worked out what a nest box is for! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 there you go, brilliant! They cotton on quickly p.s. for chicken cuddles, you need; old (warm) clothes that you don't mind getting covered in unmentionables! somewhere comfy to sit, a garden bench is good for this some mixed corn, ours love it! your girls might need some time to adjust and get used to using their legs so bear with them and you'll be cuddling up in no time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted December 16, 2007 Author Share Posted December 16, 2007 Whereabouts in Leeds are you. My daughter lives in Chapel Allerton. We used to live there (many years ago)! Now we are on the other side of Leeds towards the Castleford direction. Makes for a much easier journey to work - I don't have to fight through the Leeds traffic to get to the M62. My chooks are ok with using their legs, although their toes are a bit caked in the gunk from their barn. They don't seem too interested in layer's pellets though, there are too many tasty morsels to be scratched up out of the lawn and eaten instead. They are lively enough and interested in whatever happens in the garden, and producing TONS of poo , so I think they must be eating enough. I assume they will stop laying soon due to their move, and start again in spring - will they moult first? They're already a bit threadbare. Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Two snuggly warm chickens INSIDE the eglu! They're so cute in there, aren't they? Glad they got the hang of it so quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Whereabouts in Leeds are you. My daughter lives in Chapel Allerton. We used to live there (many years ago)! Small world! I assume they will stop laying soon due to their move, and start again in spring - will they moult first? They're already a bit threadbare. Probably. Most of us seem to have scruffy chooks at the mo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
