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

[AliA]

Please can anyone offer any advice. For the first time since having my bantams they are not eating. I know it is cold and they probably want to stay in bed but they are not even coming out of their Cube. They used to hoover up the corn and treats I put out for them of a morning but since the cold spell have not bothered.

 

They have access to fresh clean unfrozen water and food. Am I being too concerned, or should I assume that they will eat when they feel hungry?.

 

One ventured out this morning, sat on a roosing bar for 5 minutes then flew back inside.

 

Is this normal for the time of year?

 

Thanks for any advice.

 

Alia

[Patricia W]

My three white crested polish bantams are definitely eating less too. They spend much of the day perched on the back of a garden bench and in the shelter of a large tree. They do come down from time to time though for a peck around - hoping the ground has thawed! Only one was laying ( one is a cockeral so not many eggs expected from this bunch!) but she has now slowed to two a week. Roll on spring! It's a warm -I here in Abingdon. Oxon.

[HENthusiastic]

Mine are still acting like little eating machines !

Patricia, I notice that was your first post welcome to the forum. Its a wonderful place to be .

[Egluntyne]

Mine are eating me out of house and home too.

 

Why not tempt them with some warm pellet porridge? It might do the trick.

 

Welcome to the forum Patricia W.

[Patricia W]

thanks - its been invaluable. It's amazing how infectious chicken keeping is. Since I got my three last May, two neighbours have also caught the bug, and we now have three of us within half a mile! I'm the only one on the Forum but I've been able to pass on words of wisdom. Thank you all very much

[atsw]

Hi Patricia, and welcome to the forum. If you're located in North Abingdon then we're just across the fields from you .

 

Cheers

 

Andrew

[The Dogmother]

Alia, they do eat less in the winter when they lay less eggs, but you mention that you are giving them treats in the morning - that is where your problem lies... no treats until the late afternoon or evening; they aren't daft and great blackmailers, so just give them their pellets until later in the day... no s"Ooops, word censored!"s or treats at all until supper time.

[Patricia W]

I gave no treats at all today and about 1.30 pm all three legged it back to the Eglu and stuffed themselves on the layers pellets ! So it works. They've now had some corn and are off to bed.

 

My main problem is that they prefer to roost on the bench under the trees so unless I tempt them back in with corn at about 3ish and shut the door immediately, I have to retrieve them one by one and carry them in. My neighbours Orpingtons just take themselves to bed! Any tips as to how to train mine to put themselves to bed?

 

Andrew - yes, we're in North Abingdon. Amazing how many chicken keepers there are !

[The Dogmother]

Its' fien to use corn to get them in the run, and in this weather they need the extra claories in it to keep them warm through the night, so a warm porridge made with mostly pellets and some corn is ideal.

[catherinej]

When I first got my chooks, I put a tourch in the eglu to attract them to the light when it started to get dark and then removed it once they were all in. Not sure if its dark enough at 3 ish though? Might be worth a try. Mine just go to bed in their own now.

[atsw]

Our girls have always put themselves to bed all by themselves. Usually at around 4:30pm this time of year. Our two new Orpingtons simply followed the lead of Fifi, our old girl and head chook, when we got them.

 

However, our friends at the other end of the village, who have a flock of bantams, have real trouble. Their girls are forever jumping into trees to roost at night and no amount of persuasion will get them to come down . As a result they have lost a few to night-time predators .

 

Andrew