Single hen

[meldean]

hi

we got are first chickens today they seem to be getting on ok but won't go in to the eglu is this normal thanks, Dean

[Chickvic]

Sometimes they don't know where 'bed' is. Have you tried shining a torch through the egg port? They're supposed to be attracted to where the light is and go in - mine didn't I ended up using a brush to steer them in the right direction But they managed the night after!

[westleigh]

Hi i done the torch thing and it worked for my chooks

[meldean]

still trying both, got 1 in shut the door opened it to try and get other 2 in but failed

[jennybrom]

hi Dean,

 

I got mine today as well (yay!), they were a bit dubious about going in at first, it got quite dark before they were brave enough and one of them kept tapping the side of the run with her beak as though she was trying to escape (!) but they got there in the end - they've never been in an eglu before so I guess it'll take some getting used to!

 

jen

[meldean]

Thanks all

will they be ok outside as its cold 2night

[atsw]

If they are still out in the run at this time of night, it would be best to manually pop them into the Eglu now. This might involve some crawling around inside the run yourself, extracting them and putting them in through the egg port. They won't struggle as they will be very dozy now it's late. They will awake in the morning and then realise how things are supposed to be. You should then be fine after that.

 

The first day/night is always a bit of a worry, whether it's your first hens or adding more to an existing flock. However, they all work it out quite quickly and you'll soon wonder what all the fuss was about.

 

Do let us know how it all goes.

 

Andrew

[Patricia W]

Picking them up when they are dopey is also a good way of getting them used to being handled.

 

I think once you get them in and they get up tomorrow, they'll be ok.

 

Tricia

[meldean]

got in the run and ushered them in see how it goes 2morro

Thanks

[Sky]

Crikey I guess we have this problem to overcome on Saturday when we bring ours home for the first time Seems as if we will have to be crawling around inside our ark once it gets dark - looking forward to it already !!

[meldean]

also how long would you keep them in the run before you let them roam

[atsw]

got in the run and ushered them in see how it goes 2morro

Thanks

Well done, that's good news. Don't worry, this won't be a regular occurrence, they will get the hang of it very quickly.

 

Crikey I guess we have this problem to overcome on Saturday when we bring ours home for the first time Seems as if we will have to be crawling around inside our ark once it gets dark - looking forward to it already !!

From past experience, when all the hens are new they quite simply don't know what to do, or where to go. If there are existing hens who have a routine, then any new girls simply follow their lead from the start.

 

Being inside the run on your hands and knees in semi-darkness is all part of the fun of keeping chickens, apparently .

 

Andrew

[atsw]

also how long would you keep them in the run before you let them roam

It does vary, but I'd say for at least three or four days, maybe a little more. It depends on how quickly they settle into a routine.

 

Andrew

[jennybrom]

hi Dean,

 

the nice chap who brought our chooks (I think it was Darren) said that they advise keeping them restricted to the run for 5 days so that they become accustomed to it as 'home' before you let them out to roam - that way they are more likely to come back!

 

jen

[meldean]

Thanks, with having a eglu and 3 chickens just thought they would get fed up is there a pecking order as one of them seems a bit bossey

[bokbokbokbok]

Picking them up when they are dopey is also a good way of getting them used to being handled.

Tricia

 

When is this exactly? I'm just taking notes for when the chooks arrive.

[BarbaraJ]

Also let them out about 3/4pm the first time so they get a couple of hours and then take themselves back to the coop to bed, easier than trying to get them out in the morning and need to put them back in if you pop out midday!

[scrambledhead]

Glad to hear they all went to bed ok in the end.

I got my 3 last Saturday and they are establishing the pecking order, I think this is quite normal behaviour!

 

Good luck tomorrow night!

 

[meldean]

2nd night fun again , had to go in the run again to put them bed