pollenbird Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 Morning everyone, Just a quick ask for people's experiences... We are going for the big push tomorrow and are finishing of our new run for the chickens ! The eglu will still be in there as their 'home' but it will no longer be in quite the same place or attached to the eglu run. Do you think they will be clever enough to still recongnise the eglu as home (with everything else changed) or are we likely to have to coax them into the eglu to roost? We were discussing it this morning in the light of the shenanigans we have gone through moving the eglu from one end of the garden to the other before which ended with the chickens roosting on the greenhouse before we could catch them ! Thanks in advance and have a good weekend xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 Mine did! They had no problem when we moved it into the big run as the Eglu was/is sitting on an old pallett on the floor of the run. They found out straight away where they needed to roost! However we're in the process of making a raised bench so that the eglu can sit on this and give them more floor space. So they will be looking round at ground level for their eglu and their little chicken brains will not register that it's up higher on the bench! Either that, or they won't think to go up the ladder! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 I believe that you have to move their home at night while they are in it and then when they come out in the morning it 'resets' their home compass! The chap at the farm shop said that even if you only move the coop by 10 ft while they are out they wont be able to find it at bedtime and will pile up where it used to be so they move their coops (containing 50 or so chooks) by tractor at night! Then they have no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 But surely providing you can get them to go into the new run (mine were so nosey they couldn't keep themselves out of it!), they will see the Eglu and recognise it as their bedroom!! I think there would only be problems if they are out free ranging and then you moved their coop. Try chucking something tasty into the run to get them in there and I reckon you'll be OK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 The chap at the farm shop said that even if you only move the coop by 10 ft while they are out they wont be able to find it . NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ! I moved mine from the bottom of the lawn to the patio and they had no problem. (and mine are DAFT) H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 I recently moved my ex-batts Cube from the area where it had been since they arrived in mid July into a secure run. I had to do it during the day whilst they were out as usual and put them in the run once it was all set up. They went to bed in the Cube that night without any help from me and I have had no problems with them not recognising it as their home. Maybe I have got some very clever girls, but I don't think you should have any problems! Just shine a torch through the eggport to attract them into the eglu if they are unsure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pollenbird Posted October 17, 2008 Author Share Posted October 17, 2008 hee hee - I think my chickens must be especially daft... When we moved the eglu and run last year, it was hilarious (at first). The first evening, they would walk down the garden to the 'new' eglu position and then about turn and race back to the 'old' eglu position, each time as if hoping it would magically reappear!! It was very funny but an absolute nightmare to catch them so had to wait til they settled down on said greenhouse gutter to go and move them . Thanks for all your suggestions - mine are so nosy that they probably won't be able to resist exploring new run, especially if there's food involved!! I'll make sure I have batteries for the torch just in case! have a lovely weekend all, xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kez Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 I move our Eglu & run every few days - when they've trashed the grass beneith. I always do it when they're free-ranging. They are so nosey they come to help (or is that hinder ). They always take themselves to bed when it gets dark, no matter where I've relocated it to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 Mine were ok when I put them in the big run and cube...both of which were new to them. They fathomed it out quite quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pollenbird Posted October 20, 2008 Author Share Posted October 20, 2008 Just an update... Whilst said run was being set up, you couldn't keep the chickens out especially due to the large amount of worms being disturbed!! Poor Squeak was desperate to lay as we were fixing the eglu into position (with the cover off) and got to the point where she was settled in the nesting box regardless of the audience and just wanted to get on with it!!! Of course, once it was all assembled and meshed, they lost all interest in being inside and had to be tempted in with mealworms, but eventually pottered off to bed together. This morning, when we let them out into their new run...they seemed a bit bemused by all the new space!! Thanks, as always, for all your advice ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 However we're in the process of making a raised bench so that the eglu can sit on this and give them more floor space. So they will be looking round at ground level for their eglu and their little chicken brains will not register that it's up higher on the bench! Either that, or they won't think to go up the ladder! Most of mine made it up to bed on their own the first night, so try not to worry. The Araucanas (beautiful but dim) took a bit longer to get the message and had to be put to bed for a few nights. Now they all take themselves up to their raised eglus no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Thanks MedusA. Just to let you know how it went. They went to bed in the Eglu on the raised bench with no problem, the next day they laid in it as well But will they use the ladder?? Noooo they will not! They hop/skip/jump onto the table and kind of side-step until they are infront of the Eglu door, then in they go. And they do the same on the way down but in reverse - or they just jump off the table!! Husband is not well pleased as the whole thing took him two weekends to make (not lovingly I hasten to add!). At first I thought it may be too steep so I put a flowerpot under the end of it to raise it. But they totally ignore it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Jumping is quicker, obviously. I have some who use the ladder and some who ignore it. There's just no telling with chickens, is there? Tell OH that you appreciate his handiwork at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I will, when we next get a nice day will take a photo of the whole 'ensemble' and post it on the forum - then OH will think he is famous! We had a bit of progress this morning. Bobs (aka Bobbie), jumped up onto the ladder two steps down from the top. Then she walked up sedately into the Eglu - all 2 steps!!- and looked back as if to say - 'Give us time mum!!'. They are such contrary little Madams!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 I'm getting a walkin run & table for my eglu next month, so it will be interesting what my girls make of it too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 one of mine still wanted to go down the bottom of the garden where the eglu was to klay. she was totally off when it wasn't there had to put her in & shut the door 3 days running. but goes in now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
