andymuk Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 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. 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. Pictures will be needed of course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 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 xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prof Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 hi! i trained mine to come to shaking mealworms and shouting chuck chuck too if they dont go back in to roost when going dark, i found that putting a torch in did the trick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Welcome to the forum . Can't add to the excellent advice above . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Welcome to the forum. Enjoy your hens. Post us some photo's when you can. We all love pictures of hens, we never get tired of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsstewpot Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Hey everyone! My girls arrived yesterday! it is so exciting and thanks for all the good advice! Last night we had to pick them up and put them in their house, but tonight they went in by themselves! Clever girls!!! Can't wait to be getting loads of eggs!!! mrsstewpot x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Glad you are loving your new girls! Just a quickie to sayl, a runny mustard colour poo is normal - it's the chook clearing out a gland and they say every 8th to 10th poo is one of these. Here's a goodreference guide to chicken poo http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0 Hope your girls are settling in well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andymuk Posted December 8, 2009 Author Share Posted December 8, 2009 Wow...what a great response! Thanks ever so much for all the advice...just being a bit paranoid! I'll buy some corn in before I let them out.....and thanks ever so much for the 'poo' link...I was just about to eat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
