What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[flinchy]

Hi - have two hens in an eglu go. Got them yesterday and they are 9 weeks. Over their first day with us - one hasn't eaten yet at all - the other only twice from my hand. They now seem reluctant to come out of the eglu preferring to stay inside and peck at each other. I think they are hungry but too stressed to do anything about it yet. I also wonder if the eglu feeder is too alien for them to work out that it has food in there. We have put it close to the ground as poss so they can get their young necks in but they haven't been near it yet. I have put some food out on a metal plate to make more visible - but again they have not touched yet. Any thoughts fellow chicken sitters?

 

Thanks

 

Flinchy (as my username professes - I am nervous of picking them up!) Will overcome in time.

[Chucky Mama]

So, you are looking after these chickens for someone else and they are 9 weeks old? Are they eating the same food that they have at home? I would scatter a little on the ground to see if they will scratch around and eat it. If you are giving pellets you could try making it into a mash with some warm water and feeding it in a bowl.

[Chicken Shirl]

Nine weeks is not very old. Are they new to you or are you looking after them for someone? I would put some food on the ground outside the Eglu in front of the feeder make sure they have water and leave them to it, they will come out in their own time, they will not go hungry. Put something in the run for them to play on, the branch of a tree to perch on and hang a lettuce up on string for them. They will soon come round, don't worry. keep us posted. Piccies would be nice.

 

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Just a thought, as they are only 9 weeks, are they used to being outside in the GO or have they been inside up until now?

 

Can't add any extra to the feeding suggestions already made

 

Good luck,

 

 

Sha x

[flinchy]

Thanks for your replies, much appreciated. I am a first time "owner" not looking after for someone else but owner felt odd to put down as at this point I just feel like I am sitting watching!

 

Flinchy

[Chucky Mama]

What was their set up housing wise before you got them? They may be a bit overwhelmed at the moment. I would put food - and water which is vital to chickens, they drink at lot, closer to where they are as they may be a bit too timid to venture out at the moment.

[flinchy]

Good news - both chooks have eaten and had water and seem to be settling well. I am sure I will be returning to this site for lots of help in the future though! Thanks.

 

Fa shizzle

R-dizzle

 

These are the names that the kids have now settled on!!! Oh dear.

 

Bye!

[Plum]

Welcome to the forum. You can't go, we want to know how Fa shizzle and R-dizzle get on.

[ladyjulian]

Those are the best chicken names evah.

[flinchy]

Well day three and fa-shizz and r-dizz are eating well and drinking. Yipee! They are quite tame and I am nearly managing handling them. They are a bit flappy but seem to calm in time.

 

But, one girl loves to bite the other ones bottom feathers! Alot. Is this a dominance hierarchy thing? Should I intervene - my son suggesterd the naughty step.

 

Flinchy