Unsecure chicken perches

[seanog]

I have had my new chickens for five days now and am thinking about letting them out in the field for the first time tomorrow and would like some advice.

p.s we have cats but i think they are a fraid of the chickens my neighbour has a dog who might be a problem.

Thanks for any help

[Redwing]

Theres another recent post on this but my advice was to let them out an hour or so before it gets dark so they wont stray far and will go back to bed ok (hopefully) and to supervise them

[beulah59]

When you want them to go back in, throw a handful of corn in the run ..

 

I always feed treats etc in the run, so they know it's a good place to be! It means that if they're out, I can get them in easily, if I should need to go out during the day.

[welshnik]

Keep the hose handy - only had to use mine once and now they run back in at the sight of anything remotely water-based if they even have to think about going back in!!!!!!!!!!!!

[suebee]

Before ever letting mine out, I threw their daily scratch feed in the run, whilst calling 'girls' in a shrill voice ( neighbours probably thought I was mad). The idea being, association of that particular sound, with food, so if I called them when they were out, they'd come. I nervously let them out for the first time, and off they went, pecking and foraging away. After about 10 minutes, I got cold feet, thinking they'd wander off, and, armed with a handful of wheat, called 'girls' in the mandatory shrill voice. To my amazement, they all came running, and of course received their reward. I was cleaning the run out one day though, and the next door neighbour called her cat in for his dinner in an equally mono syllabic, shrill tone, and of course my dafties thought it was me, and charged into the run only to find a bemused mum standing holding the boring rubber gloves and dustpan!

[seanog]

Thank you very much for helping.

[Carol U]

I agree with the above, but you'll probably find that the first time you open the door they will be reluctant to go very far anyway. Whenever I've had new ones they just go a few steps at first, then gradually range a bit further each day. In a field though you'll have to watch them to keep them safe from foxes, dogs etc unless you have electric fencing. Good luck!

[bok bok]

first time out one of the Bluebelle's decided the roof of the WIR was a good place to be

 

 

hope the link works.

[beulah59]

It works!

[Plum]

Why not have a chat with your neighbour and ask them to put the dog on a lead for the first time you let them out and see what it's reaction is.

[seanog]

Thanks again everyone