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

[brightside]

Hi.

 

Just got our chickens today (4 of them). Recieved our cube Tuesday (Orange)!

 

It took all day for the chickens to venture out of the cube into the run, then only 3 of the 4 came out, is this normal?

I'm sure this is more worrying then I remeber looking after having a new, 1st baby!

 

I have a few key questions someone may be able to help with:

1: What should be in the base of the nesting box? (currently we have used wood shavings, but these are falling throough the slot in the base)

2: Will they drink from the Omlet supplied glug? or should we get something else?

3: Should we put food/drink into thier roosting area? (at least until they get used to thier surroundings?)

4: How long until we let them roam the garden?

 

Any advice, help woul be much appreciated

[quickcluck]

Hello Brightside and well come to the forum!!!!

 

An Orange cube! man that is fab, of course we will need pictures asap!!!

 

dont worry about your girls, they will come out fine in the morning, they dont need anything in there with them for night.....

 

I'd put news paper in the bottom of the nest box, this will stop stuff falling though!!

 

They will drink out of the glug fine, so dont worry too much about that.....

 

As for the garden, i'd leave it 5-7 days.... make sure they know what a treat pot sounds like and they will come running!

 

Have they had their wings clipped????

 

Your post may get moved by the mods into the 'chicken' section, it will get more replies that way!!!!

 

Bet you are up very early ready to let them out!!!

 

What chookies did you get?

[Lewis]

Yep, newspaper to plug the hole, some people use tape, or a small peice of plastic (cut from a plastic milk bottle) to fit the hole with a bolt through to weigh it down

 

They will use the glug and learn how to if it is the only source of water.

 

I aggree a week is a good time to let them out after, if you do it late afternoon they will put themselves to bed a bit better than in the morning when they are full of energy - maybe before the week is up, hold them and give them treats (sweetcorn or grapes) so they are used to people

 

 

Welcome to the forum

[Redwing]

Hello from just down the road Welcome to the Forum

 

Quickcluck pretty much has it covered

 

The glug that comes with the cube is called a Superglug, they dont always cotton on that they should driink from the teats, you can try tapping the glug with a stick so they see the water dripping out and catch on

 

If they really dont get it you can lower the glug so they can drink from the top

[Plum]

Welcome. You seem to have your questions answered but its a rule you have to post photos, tell us their names and breeds.

[Jaffa]

Congratulations...Its my first night as well.

I decided to to put newspaper under the bedding, as couldnt think of another way to

stop the bedding falling out.