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andymuk

New chickens! To free range?

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Hi all.....got our 3 new ladies last Friday and seem to have settled in Ok.

Just finished escape proofing our garden(hopefully) and was planning on letting them free range for an hour before and after work....a little worried I might not be able to get them back into their run! Any tips/advice much appreciated.

Also no eggs yet but a few runny poos which they seem happy to do anywhere,including their nest box...is this normal!!??

Cheers!

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Poo in nest box is normal so are runny ones when new and if they are eating cabbage, lettuce etc.,

 

I found mine learnt to come for corn and providing you keep it till you want them to go in they will soon come racing and straight in. :D

 

If not then gently herd them but don't chase or get them upset. I have used a long garden cane to carefully direct them in the right direction if needed. :D

 

Pictures will be needed of course :D

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Hello :) welcome to the forum :)

 

I would give it a week before you let them free range so they know where 'home' is :)

 

Also, if you want to get them back in, they should go back when its dark. Try shaking mealworms near their run and they should associate the noise with food and return to the run.

 

Try letting them out just beofre sunset so they experience it slowly, and dont worry about the runny poo, they are probably getting used to home. Dont forget to worm them :)

 

xx !eggwhite! xx

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start by just letting them out in the afternoon and get them food tame then when you're not rushed let them out mid morning or mid day then when they've bean out for a short time try to get them back in with a small bribe in needed you'll soon get to know with the stubburn one is that one will soon work out your limits to alot quicker than you work out her's

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The corn/mealworm trick works well, but it helps if you can get them tame first so they'll eat out of your hand, or pretty much so. I call "Chickens!" then they come running (it is hilarious!) and then put my hand with a handful of corn and mealworms in through the open door of the run. They all crowd in, I let the treats fall to the floor and shut the door behind them. They are usually so busy picking it all up they don't even notice the door shutting.

 

I do sometimes give them treats in the same way without shutting them in, so they don't associated treats with being shut in!

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