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

[peisiong]

Hi everyone,

 

Our 2 miss pepperpots and a blue eglu just arrived on Thurs early afternoon. Everything was fine, they ate a bit and then went into the eglu at night fall.

 

We were out the whole day and by 830pm, they were both in the eglu resting. Quick check on the food situation revealed that they have not eaten much.

 

Today (sat), let them out by 0730am and they started pecking on the blue eglu door, the exterior of the blue grub and glug. Once or twice i have seen them pop their head into the glug and drank some water or into the grub and peck for a tiny piece of food. but they spent the rest of the time either pecking at the blue elgu door or if I chase them away, peck at the blue grub and glug.

 

Are the hungry and/bored?

 

I tried to throw some feed and dry meal worms into the run and they dont seem to be interested. I put a small tray of bird seeds into the run on the floor and they dont seem that interested either.

 

I dont really mind the pecking noise (my neighbours might) but I am worried that they are not eating or drinking!

 

please help!!!!

 

Pei x

[Egluntyne]

They will eat and drink when they are ready. Don't worry!

 

They won't eat huge amount till they come into lay anyway.

 

Not sure about the pecking of the Eglu though......unless there are a few little flies about and they are catching those.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum, Pei . Good choice of eglu colour . Echo what Egluntine says - I'm sure you've nothing to worry about, they'll get the hang of things soon .

[tara]

This might sound silly but l thought as they have seen blue before and there really wanting to explore it by tasting it weird thought but l suppose could happen.

[Gallina]

My first two Omlet hens pecked at my blue Eglu incessantly. It is nothing to worry about, and eventually it will stop.

 

I think the connection between beak and brain is a bit weak in hens: the beak acts as an automatic pecker that tries everything all the time, including fingers and toes.

[eggypeggy]

My two newies are doing exactly the same thing to my orange eglu!.. I hadn't given it much thought though I have to say. I'm sure they'll give up on that soon..

 

As long as they are eating and drinking something then they'll be fine.. like the others said.. they don't need alot to start, so don't be surprised if it takes ages to get through the first bag of food.

 

My two newies have been given some treats too, but just don't know what to do with them, hilarious, my older two would have had them before they were out of my hand.

[peisiong]

hi all, thanks so much for all the assurance and advice.

 

A close friend of ours who use to keep chickens in south Africa came over to see the girls and suggested taking some of the weeds of our "well kept" gardens and some dry meal worms. The girls went crazy till the weeds and worms are all gone.

 

This morning the girls came out of eglu and started their pecking of blue things. Worrying that Aretha (the smaller of both）wasn't eating, I put some worms plus mixed corns plus pellet into a small tray on the ground. She just went for it as she was so hungry! Turns out she doesn't know how to eat from the blue grub and must have been trying desperate to find the right spot of blue with the pellets!

 

Now I put the blue grub on the ground with the opening facing up and both hens are now enjoying the food. Poor Aretha , didn't eat for 2 days but at least she has gone to bed with a full stomach.

 

I think I will gradually move the grub higher till it's hanging on the chicken run like itcwad designed to be.

 

Pei

 

Aretha

Matina

[eggs]

Don't know if it is the colour blue but Sybil always pecks at my shoes or coat if they are blue but not any other colour ???