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

[juttley72]

Having received my cube on monday then my chickens on tuesday I have noticed one seems to rarely come out of the house. On the first day I thought one speckeldy was being nasty. Assuming wanting to establish the pecking order. Has the speckledy scared the warren and thus doesn't seem to come out unless for food and water. First night speckledy was stopping the warrens getting into the cube. They got in, in the end. Last night warren wouldn't go in when dark so I left the door open. When I woke there were two eggs to my amazment. One from the white star and a brown assuming from the warren! The warrens egg was very soft. But the white egg fab husband had for breakfast weighed 42g. Thought I would have to wait ages for an egg. Wondered if I could do anything for the warren. If she continues to do same should I consider letting the speckledys go to a good home as feel really sorry for the others.

Any advice

Sally.

 

27/7/09

30/7/09

30/7/09 42 g

Not named birds yet as I can not tell them apart!!!!!

[Patricia W]

Welcome! I should give it time. They are probably just sorting out the pecking order. Make sure all can get to food and water. You may need to put out extra feeding stations for a while till it settles.

[Clare L]

Hi there. We were having the same problem last week with our head hens not letting the others into the nest box at night. They soon sorted it out after two or three nights and the others now make sure that they go to bed before the head girls...very wise We also had to put a torch into the nest area to help them find their way in when it got dark and one night had to post the bullied one in through the egg port!. Ours have been in their cube now for 1 whole week , and things have really settled down, I expect yours will as well. We also put up a separate water supply for the bullied one. She loves rodent drinking bottles, so she had one of those with Life Guard in it and loved it!

[juttley72]

Cheers for your reply what is a rodent drinking bottle and life guard. Did your hens manage to use the super glug took mine out today as one of the nipples was faulty need a set of pliers to take the damaged part out and then replace. Gave water in a tuberware box today they seemed to drink loads whereas didn't know how to use and don't want them going without. Clare are you totally new to this? Have you given yours any treats/toys yet?

Cheers

Sally

[sjp]

have a look here kife guard is a tonic

http://www.life-guard.co.uk/

give it a couple of weeks for them to settle in my thre youngsters stayed in the house at least that long as for treats dried meal worms or good not to many through mixed corn grapes sultanas all uesfull for bribes put some corn in a tin with a lid for a rattle shake it before as you give treats they sone learn to come running

[Clare L]

what is a rodent drinking bottle and life guard. Did your hens manage to use the super glug Gave water in a tuberware box today they seemed to drink loads whereas didn't know how to use and don't want them going without. Clare are you totally new to this? Have you given yours any treats/toys yet?

Cheers

Sally

 

Hi Sally

 

Yes totally new to all this! We got our little Amber Lees 5 days before our cube and Omlet girls arrived. It was good, as the they had a few days to find their feet before the older omlet girls arrived and have really held their own. I did and still do feel really sorry for the Amber Lees because I hate watching the others bullying them, but then sometimes they all lay in a big heap in the sunshine and then I think they cannot hate them that much

 

As for water - a rodent drinking bottle is just a standard pet drinking bottle that rats/rabbits use - they sell them in every pet shop. They just seemed to peck at it all day getting their water/lifeguard. They did take to the superglug straight away. My son loves to offer them water from a pot and they guzzle it back, and they love drinking out of the spout of a watering can when I fill up the glug - although sometimes it sloshes over their head, which they are not so sure of ! I have now stopped the life guard and am just adding the vinegar stuff (cannot remember what it is called).

 

They dont have any toys, but they do have a stick thing that I hang food on from the top of the cube - Pets at Home sell them for parrots I think. They have somthing like an apple or half a sweetcorn on it early evening to distract them as this is when they squabble most. Other treats I give them are raisons, grapes, and a very small amount of corn everytime I want them to go back in the cube. I also use a shaker everytime I give them treats, and now as soon as they hear the shaker they go running into the cube. I have also given them plain cooked pasta and rice, homemade veg risotto and boiled up and chopped potato peeling and veg which they love...not every day and only a very small amount, but it keeps them entertained in the evening for a while...dont think it will do them any harm...

 

Hope thinks are settling down in your cube now.

 

Clare

[teri]

hi sally welcome to the forum...you're in good hands

i have found the forum full of great personalities and advice...no matter how daft you think the question is

it does become very adictive and you will quickly recognise the regulars who are always willing to offer advice and support...before you know it you will be giving advice to the next freshly laid egg

your girls will settle once they have decided on a pecking order, after that it's just entertainment all the way!!!