Chuckov Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Would appreciate some help on this one!! Ginger and Nutmeg arrived 2 weeks ago and seem very happy, but they just will not go in the Eglu at dusk by themselves - I have to physically pick them up and put them in! They seem to prefer roosting on top of the barbecue which is covered over and in a corner, and have developed a little assault course for themselves, which involves jumping onto a log, then a patio chair, then a patio table to get there They also will not go in during the day for food or drink, so when I do eventually put them in they are desperate for a drink and food! Have tried luring them in with leftover Weetabix, which they seem to love, but even that won't work! Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickflick Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 i am also very new to all this but will add my thoughts anyway if that s ok! Would it be worth keeping them shut in the run and eglu for a day or 2 to rehome them to it? I have only had my 3 for a week now but i have learned that all chickens come complete with their own personality! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 I was going to say the same thing - Eglu recomend keeping them in for 5 days - I would keep them in for a few days, then only let them out in the afternoon until you have training them that that is their home. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky1 Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Hello - I have a cube and run and have had my chooks for about a year. Hope this helps: - They need to be kept in the run attached to egly, so that they know that this is home and a safe place to be. Otherwise you may well find them trying to roost in a tree/bush or somewhere else a bit high. - Try above and also we have in the past pushed them up the ladder with a broom. - another method that worked is to place a torch in the roost so that they are attracted to the light at nightime. Hope this helps. THEY will do it , it just may take a day or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 It is a good tip about keeping them confined to the run for a few days to "Imprint" the idea of home on them. Omlet recommend it. Perhaps you could make the barbecue inaccessible to them while they are confined to the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 A few days confined to barracks should teach them where their home is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strepsy Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Did you keep them in for a few days to start with? I kept to the five days and haven't had any problems at all. They really seem to love their home actually and even when free-ranging still go back in for a while to scratch about and have some food and water, so it's nice to see that they're happy there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckov Posted March 25, 2008 Author Share Posted March 25, 2008 Hi, thanks for the replies - yes should have been more clear, kept them in for a full 5 days/ nights, and they spend at least part of each day and overnight in the run. Still won't go back in there though of own accord Should I try another 5 solid days of confinement to see if it works? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peanut12 Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 probably thought of this already but have you checked for Red Mite or anything else thatm might have unsettled them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 Leave it till it gets dark and pop a torch in the Eglu through the eggport. If you have tried this already not many ideas? It worked for me and then every night they knew where to go to bed without the torch. Mine were confined to their run for the first week though. Do you think there may possibly be mice or other nasty things going on under the Eglu that puts them off? Is it on lawn if so move it a few feet? Just some suggestions from a novice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckov Posted March 26, 2008 Author Share Posted March 26, 2008 Morning, thanks for the overnight replies, peanut, sarah, you're burning the midnight oil Sarah! I don't think there's necessarily anything bad in the Eglu, as if they are in the run and it gets dark they will happily trot inside to roost, it's just if they are free ranging they don't seem to have realised that they're meant to go in to the run for food or into the Eglu to sleep! We are due a good clean out this weekend anyway so will change over to my spare roosting bars just in case there is anything lurking. We're going to send the girls to their room for a few more days to see if that does the trick, if not we will try putting the barbecue in the garage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gentle1973 Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 We had this with our last lot of chickens - it turned out we had red mite in the coop. You couldn't see them during the day, but at night we shone a torch into the coop and you could see loads of red bugs. As soon as we got rid of them (the red mite, not the chickens) they were happy and went back into the coop. Hope that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckov Posted March 27, 2008 Author Share Posted March 27, 2008 Thanks Wendy, I went and checked at night but couldn't see anything . Anyhow, it's possible the problem is solved - they both went in today whilst free ranging for some water and food and I didn't have to make them Am going to try again leaving them out till roosting time at the weekend and see what happens x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...