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

[Jennifer Jane]

We picked up our 3 ex-batts (also our first chickens) yesterday - Matilda, Mabel & Maud. Apparently they came from a particularly frightened batch, poor things, and we were advised to keep them in the coop with food and water for a couple of days with the pop-hole open just in case.

 

We tried to leave them alone, which is easier said than done, and just as dusk was falling, first Matilda, then Mabel came down the ramp into the run, but Maud stayed in the nesting box.

 

We were up unnaturally early for a bank holiday to go down and "hen-watch" but they waited until we had gone before Matilda and Mabel again ventured out, took a turn around the run and disappeared back in. Still no Maud, in fact the most I've seen of her since we got them back is her rear end. I'm just wondering if we should leave her to come out in her own sweet time as we don't want to stress her, but I do want to see if she is alright.

 

The cats are fascinated but wary of these strange creatures, so I hope it stays that way. Oh, and the slugs are eating the hens' food - which seems to be turning them into monster slugs!

 

JJ

[CluckyBucks]

Congratulations they sound lovely

 

About you hiding hen, she is probably just getting used to having a nice place to live in, i would check on her though to see if she is eating, drinking, for mites, ect.

 

MONSTER SLUGS!!! I am having the same problem, they are massive, its like popeye and spinich i suppose, except it is slugs and chicken food

 

Good luck with your girls

 

xx xx

[Egluntyne]

It will take a few days for them to settle down and become used to their new surroundings.

[Jennifer Jane]

Thanks for the replies. My DH could not resisting opening up the nest box and checking on Maud and she is eating (we have a small feeder inside the coop) but she is obviously much shyer than the other two. Matilda is the brave one and doesn't seem at all bothered about having a human in the run with her, Mabel is a bit more wary but she's a bit of a bossy boots. They seem to have totally different personalities but I know these can change. When we had our two cats, Max was the brave and adventurous one and Mia hid for the first couple of days. Now Mia is feisty and loud and Max is a bit of a wimp, frankly (but I love him!)

 

I know I am going to love the new girls too and will post pics when they become less camera shy (and the sun comes out, whenever that might be).

 

JJ

[Space Chick]

Congratulations.

 

They will take a few days to adjust, but ex batts are so rewarding, when you see them scratch around and dustbath for the first time your heart will just melt

[Jennifer Jane]

Well they seem to be settling in more quickly than I hoped - they each laid today so we have our first three eggs! So exciting.

 

They have all been out in the run today though Mabel is definitely self-styled queen of the coop. She is out all of the time, digging holes and chasing the other two, Benny Hill style, round the coop. I'll have to keep an eye on them to check for injuries, though difficult to tell when both have bare pink bums already. Mabel, of course, is quite well-feathered.

 

One of the girls ate a wasp this morning, luckily with no ill effects, and the monster slugs seem to have disappeared...

 

I am going to be a very boring chicken mum!!!

[Space Chick]

You won't be boring to us

 

Although, you might start seeing your friends glaze over soon when you "chook talk"

 

Glad they are settling in well.