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

[xenacathy]

Hi

 

Finally collected my ex-batts on Saturday. They coped very well with the traumatic day they had and seem to be enjoying their new home. They all laid eggs yesterday throughout the day - the first @ 11.30am and the last @ 4.45 pm!!! I'm not sure what time they shoud lay but I suppose it will take time for them to settle to any routine - poor things. Eggs are a lovely bonus anyway, I just love the fact that they have a new life.

 

A couple of things you may be able to help me with:

 

They don't seem to want to take themselves into the Eglu at night/dusk. They seem to start getting a bit panicky and we have had to grab them and put them inside ourselves. Has anyone else had this problem? Any tips?

 

Only one chicken has laid an egg today - not that I am worried about having an egg, but is it ok and normal for them to not lay?

 

Thanks so much for your help.

[Funny Feathers]

Hi,

Glad the re-homing day went ok and that they're settling in. I wouldn't worry about them not going in to the eglu on their own yet - it is early days and I'm sure they'll get the hang of it before too long. What about laying down a little treat like corn or something to entice them in? I'm not sure if other people's hens are regular as clock work with their eggs, but our lovely ladies produce them at all sorts of times - I think that's half the fun, going to see if there's an egg there or not! Don't forget piccies. I can see a change in our hens already - their combs are reddening and they don't run away from us when they're free ranging and we're near them

[Peaches]

Welcome - I am exactly 2 weeks more experienced than you are! I have 4 ex-batts (nearly 3 this week as one of my springers got hold of one and it was touch and go ).

 

However, I have discovered one secret weapon to get the chickens to follow you - grapes. When I am putting them back in the coop at night I lead the way with grapes and they follow. In fact, when I got into the garden the lollop towards me in the hope I am going to feed them grapes.

 

Our eggs are erratic too - one day one, next day three etc etc. Not sure if there is a pattern, but one thing with ex-batts is they wanna lay.

 

Fiona

[xenacathy]

Thanks so much - that has reassured me. I am glad all of your hens are doing well too. I can't wait to let mine free-range - just waiting the 5 days that Omlet recommend.

 

XXXX

 

PS - I will put some photos on when I have worked out how to do it. I am so thick when it comes to computers!!!

Bye. xx

[alih]

The egg thing is typical and they may take a while to crank up after their move - mine did. And if they are growing feathers they will put their energy into that rather than laying for now. Both mine lay nearly every day now after 3 months

[dancing cloud]

Hello from me and my ex-batts

 

Don't worry at all about the going to bed confusion - they haven't had a bed to go to before, and they very soon catch on to where their lovely cosy eglu is. My three new heavenly ex-batts went to bed in the eglu on their first night, but then didn't realise they could come out again the next day (well they'd never had an out before either!) .

 

It will take them a few days to get into an egg routine too and there may be a softie or two along the way until they get settled. They may well also stop laying for a while as Alih said, if they need to put their energy into feathers. Dandelion, one of my "big" girls didn't lay an egg for 5 1/2 months and I assumed she was never going to do so again, when one day she toddled out of the nestbox leaving an egg behind and has laid 3-4 eggs a week ever since!

 

Look forward to the photos - we can never get too many piccies of spoiled happy ex-batts

[Egluntyne]

It might be worth putting a little ramp or step up for them to get into the Eglu.

 

Ex batts tend to have very weak muscles, and they might struggle at first. Mine did.

[xenacathy]

Thanks so much for the advice everyone.

 

Good news - they all took themselves into the last night.

 

They enjoyed their first trip around the garden yesterday too. They had a fantastic time digging for worms and scratching in the mud. They are so lovely.

Edited May 11, 2009 by Guest

[mostin]

So glad you are enjoying your ex-batts. i got mine on Saturday as well. I got no eggs for a couple of days but now I am getting 2 normal eggs a day and 1 softie a day. I have run out of zolcal d but I have ordered some more to put in their water to give them a calcium boost.

 

I am going to let mine out into a big omlet fenced area on Saturday and watch them go for it .