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

[Lailapet]

Hi all of you!

Welcome to new names too. I often spend an evening or two a week reading everything, but don't often chip in because I'm so busy reading and often someone else has said what I wanted to say further on in the thread or I've forgotten my little comment by the time I get to the end and could say something.

 

Anyway, at the moment we live out in the middle of nowhere and the two hens + the cockerel are let out in the mornings to roam free while we're away. It's irresponsible, I expect you'll say, but there are people around here on and off all day. I'm not being naive, we did lose our original chickens to a fox/dog, so I know it happens And things will definitely not continue like this. I'll have to get them used to being in the eglu and run as we will be moving in September - to a fairly new terraced rented house with a tiny tiny garden. We will have more room indoors and it's right next to my children's school in the village where all their friends live and I have long wanted to move there so was extremely happy to be the first one to call when one became vacant. But an important condition was that I should be allowed to keep the chooks. Well, we can bring the hens and the eglu, as I said, the garden is tiny tiny and they will have to stay in the eglu most of the time and only free range (on the patio bit among the furniture...) when I have put a fence up... I feel rotten! But at least there will only be the two of them as I can not bring the cockerel to such a populated area.

You might ask what I'll do with him... The friend I got him off has said she'll have him back as they lost their big cockerel not long ago and the chicks they are hatching at the moment will take a while to mature and she likes having a male keeping her girls in order. So it's kind of a happy ending after all. But should I start getting them used to being kept in the run or wait till there's just the two of them and we move?

Anyway... Best get the children to bed!!!

Laila

[Egluntyne]

Hello.

 

Nice to hear from you.

 

I'd get them used to being in the run now, then it won't add to the trauma of moving.

[chelsea]

hi there again.

 

I agree with eglutine, keeping them in the run and doing it gradually will be well worth the effort when you do need to move.

[Lesley]

Hello again Laila

 

.....and don't forget that they will be fine in the run...... until they see you..... then they will start pacing up and down and pretending that they are stressed Spy on them from a bedroom window and watch

[Lailapet]

Yes Lesley, I see that already in the mornings, that frantic pacing...

 

Thanks everyone for your replies... I'll give them a day in the run this week, two next week and so on... I also just thought that my dad will be looking after them while we're in England for 10days in July and it's so mch easier for him if he doesn't need to drive back and forth letting them in and out... I think I'll take Mr Fandsen back to his childhood home sooner rather than later as well. I like this forum - all my own thoughts are confirmed!!!

 

Laila