baublegirl Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 New ex-batts are all standing around at the end of their eglu run, seemingly clueless that it's bedtime. I went in the run (only just fitted on hands and knees !) but they wouldn't let me catch them, and one got out! Just managed to get her back into the run So.. how do I get them into bed?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 Get a torch and shine it in the coop. They should go towards it. When it gets dark they can't see well and just stand still. Good luck! Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 In daylight hours you could entice them in with food, otherwise you will either have to leave them out or put them in one at a time yourself. Once it is dusk they are much easier to catch - they go all dozy, of course you also will find it harder to see but easier to catch the birds! Good luck, they will get the idea, and your run is foxproof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 It's got to be a hands and knees job if the torch doesn't work (and mine never went for it). By now they should be fairly sleepy and easy to catch and/or herd towards the door. If not, wait a while till they are and that should make the coaxing easier. Once they've spent a night in there and realise how nice having a proper bed is, they soon get the hang of it . Let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beulah59 Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 I had one LS who wouldn't go into the ark at first, but two nights of leaving a torch in there did the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baublegirl Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 Thanks for all the tips everyone. Tried the torch, but they didn't go for that. They're quite close to the house so there's a fair amount of light coming from the windows. In the end I went in on hands and knees and caught them one by one and passed them to my husband who popped them in the egg port! There was a bit of consternation from them at first, but all is now quiet. Hopefully tomorrow they'll know what to do. It's so weird holding a chicken with so few feathers - they feel really oven ready Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue-DiamondChick07 Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 Torch worked for me too. They got it on the first night, now they go to bed by themselves as soon as it gets dark apart from Billina, who now thinks shes getting a treat whenever I come in the garden lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 Well done, they might have been frozen oven ready's by the morning - its going to be chilly tonight! One of the many delights of chicken ownership - crawling around on the ground (also a bit of a flaw with the eglu and cube design)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ophelia Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 When I first got my ex batts they wouldn't go to bed either. When I went in to the run they would run underneath the eglu so I had to lie on my belly to catch them. I also had the experience of chasing an escapee around the garden. I only caught her because she probably had never run before so tired fast. After two nights of putting them to bed they finally put themselves to bed on the third night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Well done you - sounds like good team-work! Now they've had a night in there and it smells of them, they may be more willing to get themselves to bed tonight . Know what you mean about handling oven-readies, my second batch were completely naked when they came out and it was just hands on skin and ribs . When I went to collect them, I was asked if I'd mind taking the baldies, as I already had six ex-batts so wouldn't be too shocked, but they really were totally oven-ready . Fat and fully-feathered cheeky chooks now though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evanowen Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 They will only go in places the 'know' they are safe, the best way to educate them is to keep them in the hutch for a couple of days and then let them into the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
