debbier Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 My eglu + chooks are due this friday. I did spend last night wondering what I was letting myself in for, but apart from that, just wanted a check that I had the bare minimum needed for the first week or so. My plan is to move the eglu around my largish, scratty lawn for a while then maybe resort to a wir if/when they trash my lawn beyond my tolerance levels. food - coming with the kit grit - no, but will get that soon enough: they won't need it from day one, right? what do I need in the way of bedding (aubiose etc.), and where would it go: in the nesting box or anywhere else? treats: will experiment with ideas on here and definitely NOT overdo it (must watch my kids though...) waterpistol: for the dog (high noon?) picnic blanket: to cover eglu at night, just in case. Anything else I've forgoten? Also, when they first get here, what the heck do I do with them? Let them loose in the run when they get here, and shut them away at night or what? I seem to recall reading that you kept them in the coop for a few days, but that can't be right, surely? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Your answers are all here The FAQ section is worth visiting; it contains the answers to life, the universe and everything in between Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbier Posted June 23, 2009 Author Share Posted June 23, 2009 I'd read that little lot already (mind you, it doesn't have a water pistol in it....) so think I'm ok. I have some basic stuff such as wormer etc. on order, though won't need that from day 1. I've pretty much read War and Peace on chicken keeping, some of which has scared me silly! It was more the really, really basic question as to how to welcome chooks with the key to the eglu. I couldn't easily find that in the omlet faq or my reams of bookmarks. The omlet delivery should explain all, I guess, but I wanted a bit of reassurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 You may find that the first night they don't know where to go to bed and will need some help. I found mine in a heap in the corner of the run the first night even though the self appointed top chook had been running in and out of the Eglu trying to tell them where to go If you are keeping them on grass they will wreck it pretty quickly, we built a permenant area for the Eglu at the end of the first week. Don't give them too many treats like corn early on because you will finf that they won't eat that many pellets anyway until they start to lay and if they get used to other stuff that will be made worse. If I think of anything else I will come back, these were my experiences, best of luck and just enjoy watching them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ness3103 Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 my eglu is inside a wir, when we got the girls we let them out in the run straight away , they pottered about quite happily, sunbathing and dustbathing. once it started getting dark two of them went into the eglu quite happily. the other two were posted through the egg port the second night they all put themselves to bed. shutting them in for a few days refers to keeping them in the run for a while before free ranging, just so they know where 'home' is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atsw Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I did spend last night wondering what I was letting myself in for, but apart from that, just wanted a check that I had the bare minimum needed for the first week or so.? You've let yourself in for un-tolled amusement and an utterly addictive hobby . Chooks are great, they are also very self-sufficient. All you need to provide is food, water, and a place to live (i.e. the Eglu and run). To start with, all that's needed for the Eglu is some form of bedding for the nest box. Some use straw, some use shredded newspaper, some use Aubiose/Easibed. There's no right or wrong, use what works for you and your chooks, you'll soon get to know what they like and dislike! Do keep them in the Eglu and Run for at least five days. After that controlled free-ranging in the garden will be fine. Uncontrolled free ranging will result in a very battered garden and could spell disaster if Mr Fox finds you have chickens roaming free. Oh, and a Camera is essential. Everyone here is very keen on pictures, the more the merrier. So if you don't know how, you have between now and Friday to learn how to post pictures on the forum . Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 No need to worry they are so easy peasy and look after themselves. You just provide accomodation food and water...a weekly clean in my case..I only put bedding in the nest area and use newspaper underneath in the cleaning tray and I just move the tray and put old bedding in an incinerator(you could compost it) You can get some grit after they arrive (no expert but I think its in the layers but may be corrected..I still give them some) Enjoy..once they know where to go to bed you can go off to the pub and shut the door on your return in the pitch black as they go to bed all by themselves. The reward for your efforts some beautiful fresh eggs(& you will want more I am sure) good luck indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbier Posted June 23, 2009 Author Share Posted June 23, 2009 Many thanks for all the reassurances. I'm sure everything will work out fine. I'm sort of resigned to ending up with a fixed eglu, or a wir after all the posts I've read about it. However, I've only just convinced my OH that an eglu was a Good Idea, so didn't want to spring that one on him (or his wallet) quite just yet. Camera is primed and ready to go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Hi. You'll be just fine. Keep them in the run for 5 days so they get to know it's home. But apart from that you'll have endless fun just watching them. Locking the eglu door at night is entirely up to you. Some leave it open 24/7 as it's really easy for them to come and go, and others like myself shut the door at dusk (9.15pm at present) and open it at 7.30am. Now that is a bit of extra work but it stops my girls shouting at 4am first light. But try what's best for you and see how you go. I have an and for the first 6 months it was fine shifting it round the garden every few days. Grass recovers well and it was no hassle. But come Winter, grass doesn't grow, it gets eaten and I just let them get on with it and then put a cover on and they now live on Auboise in the run (as I'm getting lazier in my old age). So I just end up with a "landing strip to reseed" Have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
