snowchick Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Hi I'm new here! We collected our 2 chickens yesterday (18 weeks), a Partidge Silkie and a Buff Cochin. I've read few the forums but just had a few questions that I couldn't find answers too, apologies if they are "stupid questions" - They are totally in shade where they are, will this be a problem temprature wise for them? - We were advised to keep them in the coop only for one night, and have opened the door to the run this morning and they have just come out into the run. They have food and water, but I'm unsure if they have had any, it's hard to tell, they will be ok won't they (ie: they will find the food and water?) - I went out to see them and they went straight back into their "house" - is this normal? - What can I feed them as a treat? saw a few ideas on here, but what goes down well? - They have shavings in the coop and bark in the run - should I replace this bark with wood chippings or will bark be ok. - They will be allowed to roam when we are in the garden, but they are not on grass in the run, should I lay a roll of turf in the run do you think? - Anything I can hang up in the run to amuse them? That's all for now! Hope to get to know some of you and thanks in advance for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Hello Snowchick & welcome to the forum . Congratulations on your new hens. I'll try to answer your questions below: Hi- They are totally in shade where they are, will this be a problem temprature wise for them? Don't think that will be a problem but they do seem to like sunshine. As long as your run isn't damp as a result I don't see it being a big deal. If they can freerange they'll have access to any sunshine while they're out. (If it's very sunny, you have to give them shade so it's probably OK.) - We were advised to keep them in the coop only for one night, and have opened the door to the run this morning and they have just come out into the run. They have food and water, but I'm unsure if they have had any, it's hard to tell, they will be ok won't they (ie: they will find the food and water?) They will find the food and water no problem! Don't worry! When they drink it's only a quick slurp so it's easy to miss unless you're watching for hours (which you may find yourself doing .) - I went out to see them and they went straight back into their "house" - is this normal? Maybe they're just a bit nervous of you. Get going with the treats (see below!) - What can I feed them as a treat? saw a few ideas on here, but what goes down well?Mine love half grapes, raisins and dried mealworms. - They have shavings in the coop and bark in the run - should I replace this bark with wood chippings or will bark be ok. I think bark can go mouldy so chippings are better. (Or Hemcore if you can get it - it's brilliant stuff.) - They will be allowed to roam when we are in the garden, but they are not on grass in the run, should I lay a roll of turf in the run do you think? A few people on the forum do that or a seed tray - it won't last long though . - Anything I can hang up in the run to amuse them? Corn on the cob, apples, cabbages, birdseed thingies (not fatty ones though, ones with honey), CDs - I'm sure there's more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 If they are POL they will not eat huge amounts until they lay We give ours allen & paige super mixed corn just before they go to bed at night, this is a mixture of grains and grit which seems to provide them with enough grit for the egg shells. Ours also like green cabbage, lettuce, meal worms, the bottom leaves from cauliflower. We have a permenant run area which is made up of a planked area filled with bark chips, there is some question as to whether bark encourages mould growth and disease but we have had our on this surface since May last year. We take of the top dirty layer every few weeks and top it up with fresh bark and they have been fine and have got about 6 inch depth to dig in which they do a lot when the weather is dry. Ours girls live most of the year in the shade because we have a north facing garden, they love any sunny patches that they find when free ranging in the winter but they don't seem to come to any harm in the shade Good luck with your girls they are seriously addictive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Hi snowchick and welcome to the forum! Just to add my two-penn'orth: Our eglu is at the shady northern end of a south-facing garden, with the Omlet "winter" cover on permanently to keep out the rain, but the girls get to free-range whenever I'm home during daylight hours - they spent a good deal of yesterday leaning against the warm bricks of the house and snoozing in the sun! On the whole shade is better than sun, IMHO - I lost two chickens in a month during a very hot spell the summer before last (temperatures of 28-34 degrees C!), and I reckon the heat was largely to blame. I've used bark in the run ever since we got the eglu 18 months ago and never seen any mould, but that may depend on the climate in your garden - East Anglia is drier than the rest of England, so even in a torrentially wet year we don't get totally soaked. You can provide grass if you like, and they do love it, but they'll be fine without, especially if you give them some greens. Be warned that chickens are individuals - some will kill for grapes or cucumber whilst others ignore them (though pretty much all chickens like sweetcorn, I think!), so try different things and see what they enjoy. No avocados or citrus, though, and no farmed meat (because of salmonella) - but mine love tinned tuna! If it's any consolation, one of my new bantams is still very shy after a couple of weeks and runs into the eglu, clucking in alarm, if I go too near her! I'm sure she'll come round in time - she hasn't had much chance to get used to me yet, since I work full time and don't get home until it's dark. Enjoy your girls - I bet they're lovely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowchick Posted February 11, 2008 Author Share Posted February 11, 2008 Wow, thanks so much for the quick response. I'll get some raisins and cabbage/corn and see how we get on. Also, forgot to ask - how long should it be before we open the gate on the run to let them roam in the garden. We are only likely to do this whilst we are there with them. I didn't know if we had to wait a few weeks to do this. How do you get them back into the run once you have let them out and how far will the wander??? Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Also, forgot to ask - how long should it be before we open the gate on the run to let them roam in the garden. We are only likely to do this whilst we are there with them. I didn't know if we had to wait a few weeks to do this. A few days should be plenty - I kept my newbies in for about five days before letting them out into the garden. They soon learnt where "bed" was, and now go back in the run as soon as it starts to get dark. How do you get them back into the run once you have let them out and how far will the wander??? Basically they'll wander as far as they can, so if you have hedges or gaps in your fences, you'll need to block them! To get them back in the run, decide on a chicken call - clicking your tongue, or calling "chook-chook-chook" (anything you don't feel too silly saying!) - and do it whenever you bring your girls a treat. They'll soon learn, and come running whenever you make the noise! When I want to get mine in the run in hurry (e.g. before I go to work), I call them and scatter a bit of maize in the run, then shut the door behind them whilst they're distracted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 You're advised to keep them in their run for 5 days or so so they get their roosting instinct. (I know some people couldn't wait that long .) To get them back in the run, find out what their favourite treat is, put it in a distinctive jar or bowl and shake it near the run to entice them back in. Before mine started laying, they could be a bit tricky to round up - I used to herd them towards the run door (bend low, arms stretched out - a good look ) & also resorted to using a longhandled broom stretched out so the chicken is between you and the broom & you can manoevre it in the right direction. They get much more biddable when they start laying . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 I agree with everything said above. I use sweetcorn to lure them back into the run. Works every time. I wouldn't bother with the roll of turf. They will destroy it before you have time to make yourself a cup of tea! Don't hold out too many hopes of having a bowling green lawn either! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Don't hold out too many hopes of having a bowling green lawn either! Lawn? What's that? Oh, you mean the muddy patch of tatty old grass between the patio, the raised beds and the eglu! To be fair, last year's weather didn't help - half the time it was too wet to let the girls free-range or mow the lawn ourselves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
