4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[*mummy_hen*]

As EVERYONE knows and is probably sick of hearing, got my 5 girls yesterday and obviously realise it is all very new to them, but we had 3 eggs this morning and only one was still intact.

One was in the house when i opened them up and had a very thin shell on it, just think it had been stood on, no evidence of pecking. One was in the middle of the run and i just happened to be in there and the third was also in the run but as soon as one girl lay it, another came over to inspect....promptly walking all over. I immediately took it away so none of them could eat any of it, but wondered how do i start teaching them to use the nest book, i have put a 'fake' in there, but as yet no luck!

 

Also, am picking them up and putting them in and taking them out of their house, but i think they would be fine to use the ladder....however none of them know what it is, they make it to about rung two and then fly off. Don't want to push them, but just worried if we aren't here and it is awful weather, they won't know how to get into the shelter of the house.

Any ideas?

 

Thanks,

[Egg Lou]

Really sorry I don't have any advice.. but do hope they find their way about soon

[puffball]

when we first got ours they stayed in the coop for most of the day and learned from spending so much time in there - i think that if you make it comfortable for them by using plenty of straw and also use another egg(with a thick shell is best) to encourage them to lay there.

 

hope that helps

[Tessa the Duchess]

I am sure they will soon get the hang of the ladder, they've probably never seen one before and ex batts often have weak leg muscles due to not using them in the cages It is very early days don't worry. I have no idea about encouraging them to use the nest box, sorry.

 

Tessa

[*mummy_hen*]

Thanks for the replies....no luck on the egg front yet, but we had one brave hen Martha go up and down the ramp freely this afternoon. Had a few others have a look but not make it much further than the first rung but i'm sure it won't be long before they all follow suit

[peanut12]

our ex-batts started dropping them everywhere a first, but within a week all but one was laying in the nesting boxes (thanks to a rubber egg)

 

However, to this day Madras insists on laying hers in the same corner of the run- at least I know she is laying regularly.