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

[seraphine]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22781593@N03/?saved=1

 

Hope that link works. So far the girls have just been digging around in the bark and loving all the bugs they've been finding - they've barely touched their pellets and have made a HUGE mess of their water

 

They don't seem too friendly yet, wouldn't come over for a grape (in fact they pretty much ignored the grapes so I guess they're not too fond of them!) and don't like to come too close when the run door is opened. I'd like to handle them really, so we can try and get friendlier chooks, when's the best time to do this and how?

[quickcluck]

Dont fret pet! They wont eat many treats or pellets until they begin to lay, then their appetite increases big time

[Jennyhenny]

When they go into bed tonight you could close the front door and then open up the egg port and take them out there to cuddle, they will be more dozy at bedtime.

 

When mine are let out to forrage they find that more exciting than anything I have in my hand except sweetcorn then they run like mad for it

 

Jennyhenny

[Kangarooby]

Fab that thye've arrived!!whoo-hooo! I've been going out just before dusk when they're in their house and picking them up then to handle them - they're too sleepy then to react quickly. Hopefully that'll translate into them getting used to us, though they;ll stand about a foot away from us now if we stand still, when they would've run a mile at the start...

[sgregson]

Don't worry, they'll soon be pecking your fingers for those treats

 

We got our girls at the end of April and it's probably taken to about now to get to know us though Tallulah is still a bit skittish (the youngest of the three).

 

Once they begin to associate you with treats they'll soon be bashing that door to get out

 

Try giving them a worm... they'll do anything for one of those!!

 

The Omlet guy advised me that the best time to handle them until they're used to you is when they're locked away in bed at dusk, open the door to the nesting box and just stroke them for a few days and then progress to picking them up... I was amazed at how soft their feathers were!

 

Glad your daughters are enjoying them.... my kids just adore them, though my 18 mth old seems to think they're cats

[seraphine]

Thanks everyone

 

We've had such a lovely day watching them, boy have they made a mess of their run already! I'm so glad we decided not to site them on grass! And they seem to have got a bit more friendly already, Henrietta and Annie have been eating corn from our hands

and they all enjoyed some fresh spinach leaves which Bella fed them.

 

Just hope they're nice and quiet tomorrow morning!

[Plum]

Great chickens, fun isn't it. Agree with the others and you'll soon have chicken friends. They suddenly realise you bring food and you get mugged

[Budgies]

Yay, Seraphine, you have chickens!! LOL

 

Eating out of your hands on the first day is really good, I think I'd had mine a few days before they did a bit of pecking at our fingers for treats!

 

You're doing great, and if you want to handle them, like the others have said, best when they're dozy - give them 15 mins to settle into bed then quietly open the nesting box door and give them a stroke. Enjoy!

[KarenW]

Aw lovely I bet you've had a fab day! Did they say how old they are, or do you not get to find out exactly?

 

I can't believe you got an egg! Wow

 

32 days to go.....

 

Karen x

[seraphine]

Hi Karen! Those 30 days will go quickly, don't worry!

 

The chap who delivered the girls yesterday said this batch had come up from the breeder in Devon at around 17 weeks, that was at the begiing of the month so now they should be around 20/21 weeks.

 

We've had 4 eggs so far (2 yesterday, 2 today) so at least two of them are laying anyway, the ages seem to correspond with that.