Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[tomdeane]

ok... thanks for the advice. I will try that tomorrow. They did come out into the garden this afternoon from about 4.30 until about 5.15... but thats only because I was there I think.

[tara]

May be there were foxes around they may have come out when there were people around bacause the fox stayed awat then.Good luck with them at least they have a good owner now.

[Eyren]

If it's any consolation, Tom, one of my new girls is still very nervous after 3 weeks with us, even though she seemed fine when the owner gave her to me to hold when I picked them up. She has been hiding in the eglu a lot in this cold weather, and won't come more than a foot away from me even when there are treats in the offing - whereas the other two will eat from my hand. As others here have said, maybe they had a fright at their old place and will take some time to get used to their new, safe surroundings. Good luck!

[tomdeane]

thanks Eyren and Tara. thats very reassuring, at least Im not the one doing something wrong - I was really worrying about them, and constantly checking the forum to make sure I wasn't doing something that they dont like. I think I will lock them in the garden for 1 hour at a time and in the run for 1 hour at a time, so try and force them to see that it is safe for them.

 

Tom

[tomdeane]

hi again... i just read the FAQ's about broody hens. do you think mine could be? hey do seem to sit in the nest all day for the past 2 days, unless I go outside and them come into the run for a bit, then go back inside? they occasionally come out for food and water... they havent layed an egg yet, but could they be starting to get broody? how could this have happened? also, they seem to be fluffing p all their feathers so they look round, (i just thought it was due to the cold weather and wind) and they are also making deep crooning noises (dont know how to describe them) ...

 

or is this normal when they are coming into lay?

[Tina C]

Are your girls pure breeds or hybrids? Pure breeds are more likely to go broody than hybrids, but I think its unlikely if they have not started laying.

 

I have young bantams and 2 have gone broody very quickly (even in this cold weather) but they had been laying for a few weeks.

 

(The bantams also seem to be more sensitive to the cold than the big girls too)

 

Sounds to me like they are more likely to be thinking about laying.

 

Probably also worth mentioning that none of my girls have been very interested in treats at first but they all became more interested after they started laying (when they start eating more as well).

 

When you approach them from behind and bring your hands down as if to pick them up do they crouch down? Mine did that for about a week before laying.

[tomdeane]

Hi Tina C, yes if Im going to pick them up they have started crouching, or they run away, lol. they are columbian blacktails (not sure if that is pure bred or hybrid?)

 

I just got back to the house now and checked on them, and i was surprised to see one of them in the run eating, and one was in the house scratching around. I think I will give them a little clean out and lock them out the house for a bit and see how they get on.

 

Tom

[tomdeane]

Im happy... they are fixed. lol

 

The chickens have been out of the house and in the garden and run all day today, on their own, they seem fine now, not running in every 30 seconds... not sure what had happened but they are behaving like a normal chicken... yay,

 

they havent started laying yet. im excited about when they do though.

 

I do feel my garden is a bit boring for them though. All it is, is a grass square which is about 15ft by 20 ft (i live in a new build). Are they ok in this or should I put things in the garden like bushes and plants (which I was planning on doing anyway) or anything else that will entertain them, rather than just a grass square surrounded by 6ft fence all they way round?

 

Tom