lew Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 Today is the day - we've had Beryl and Eileen for two weeks tomorrow so tonight they are going to have their first taste of free-ranging. I'm so nervous they will take off over the fence into our neighbours garden I will let them out about an hour before the usually take themselves off to bed and stay with them. Last night they each had a wing clipped and were not impressed by the experience, I don't think they have been handled very much by the breeder - he caught them in a net when we collected them. (That surprised me somewhat because when we were looking around for chickens the place I really wanted to get them from just picked up their stock. Unfortunately he didn't have anything available as all his had been sold.) Anyway, just thought I would share this with you. I am loving having them, the joy when they come to me for a chat (Iknow it's not the mealworm on offer!) is fantastic and OMG I'm up so early I have time for lots of jobs before I go off to work. It used to be just a mad rush to get there. Fingers crossed for tonight, my neighbours are definately not chicken people! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 Good luck . I'm sure they'll be so interested in pecking and scratching about they'll not even think of trying to escape . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BocBoc Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 Brilliant names! Good luck with the free ranging - ours are having their first trip out of the run tonight too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jan246 Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 Our 3 girls also had their first free-range experience last night! Had them since Saturday and they were going Coop-Crazy lol. Actually we couldn`t wait to let them out into the garden. A bit apprehensive about wing clipping but it was a doddle in the end- I held each girl with her head under my arm so they couldn`t see what we were doing! They had a couple of hours under our watchful eye (just incase they tried the great escape over the 6 ft fence) but they just did a complete circuit of the garden checking it all out. I cannot believe how CUTE chickens are- we are TOTAL converts! All we need now is an egg Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beulah59 Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 I've been letting the ex-batts out for four days now ... they can't wait and all crowd the door to be first out I lose one occasionally, but eventually they all gang up again and play follow the leader to some obscure place in the garden. But they like their food, so often go back to the run for more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sallyj Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 I have only had my girls for 3 weeks and I can remember how nervous I was at letting them out for the first time. Someone recommended to me to have some corn in a container ready for emergencies if any of them try to escape. Mabel did jump straight on top of the cube and looked like she was going to escape so I threw some corn down on the grass and she came back like a shot Rosie has also walked under the omlet netting a couple of times without realising what she was doing but it was very easy to get her back in again. They now seem quite happy inside the omlet netting Once, Mabel accidentally got on the wrong side of the netting and she was running round the edge desparate to get back in in case she missed anything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew Posted September 11, 2009 Author Share Posted September 11, 2009 Well that went quite well. Eileen was straight out but Beryl took her time. They were a bit nervous, every pigeon that flew over was treated like a potential chicken hawk! They enjoyed scratching around the lawn and Eileen took a few experimental runs. Beryl took herself off to bed at her usual time and Eileen soon followed when she realised her pal had disappeared. OH is obviously smitten, he came back from the supermarket with some fresh sweetcorn cobs - great says I we'll have them with lunch tomorrow, No says he, I thought the chickens would enjoy them! Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 Glad to hear it went well . OH is smitten? No surprise there . Doesn't take them long . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
