2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[dottychicken]

My eglu and first ever chickens arrived today!

 

We have 2 Gingernut Rangers and a Miss Pepperpot. Miss Pepperpot is very wary of me so far but did finally accept a raisin off my hand, whilst the other two are much friendlier and approaching me, one of them will let me stroke her and hold her which is sweet already. This evening I made some porridge using their feed and yogurt, and gave them raisins off my hand in the afternoon.

I put shredded paper in the nesting tray, laid newspaper in dropping tray, a spoon of cider vinegar in the water and a few spoons of garlic powder in their feed. I gave them a little grit in a plastic tray which they've finished already.

 

Is there anything else I can be doing? Even after one day they seem to be smelling and attracting flies already, anything to combat this? I've heard of citronella and bokashi bran - how do these work and what do you do with them?

 

Also I have a question about egg laying. One of them laid an egg around 5pm today while I was sitting by them but I don't know which one. One of them got it in their mouth and walked around with it dripping yellow yolk around. The egg seemed to have a white membrane instead of a shell and they very quickly ate it all up. Is this normal?

Miss Pepperpot is larger than the others and her feet are white with black flecks and her comb is redder than the other two so I think it was her.

 

We will be building them a simple fence enclosure to give them their own free ranging space in our garden.

 

Anything else to help settle them in? Ideas for toys and food to give them in afternoon?

 

I look forward to lots of chicken talk!

 

ETA: They have still not gone to bed! And it's not dark enough to use the torch trick yet.

[tinaduffyjames]

I too had my 2 gingernuts and 1 pepperpot delivered today and all are still in the run. I dont have a torch so any ideas?

[tinaduffyjames]

I have just balanced my mobile on top of the run by the eglu entrance with the light on!! How long shall I leave it and what if it does not work?

[sewitall]

I have only had my Miss Pepperpot and 2 ginger nuts for week. The Pepperpot is larger than the others and is also top of the pecking order. She went into the eglu first but the other two did not. So when it was almost dark I picked them and shoved them in and closed the door. Since then they have all gone to bed without prompting at around 9.00-9.30 p.m. Two are laying (one of the ginger nuts laid a softie between the bars due to the shock of moving, then a day's rest before laying a normal egg). The Pepperpot laid her first a few days later. I think they need a few days to get settled. I give my chickens a very small (about 2 tablespoons of mixed wheat/corn early evening but alternate this with a couple of tablespoons of dried mealworms). I don't give them treats during the day as I have read on this forum that is important that they eat their layers pellets first because they contain everything they need. In between I give them small leaves of oriental green salad (although the pepperpot, who is the greedy one seems to be only one who enjoys them). Some of the oriental leaves have grown long stems and flowered so I picked off a few of these and tied with natural string and suspended them upside down in the WIR. They seemed to enjoy picking off the flowers as it was swinging. I am currently sprouting some mung beans so they will get a few of these. They will also eat fresh fruit (but there was some recent discussions on avoiding grapes). I have bought some kiwi fruit which I will try with them when ripe. I have a WIR with hemcore in it so I haven't really been bothered with flies but I do go into the run and remove any obvious clumps of poo and empty the eglu poo tray daily. Some people on the forum have suggested using citronella oil diluted and sprayed around the eglu and on the bedding. Advice is to always leave a container filled with mixed grit/oyster shell as they need this to break down their food and for egg shell forming. I found out so much just by reading this forum.

[dottychicken]

Tina - any luck yet? I finally got mine into the eglu. Gingernut went in first, then the other 2 messed about going in then changing their mind and trying to walk out backwards. Don't know if the light helped or not but they seemed to follow it, they might have been going anyway as they were making more chirpings, maybe they were telling each other to go to bed?

[dottychicken]

Thanks sewitall, good to know all is well after a week and laying already. It feels like such a huge responsibility! Already I feel so anxious that they will remain well and hope they will be happy, as the gingernuts are so beautiful. I was giving them a few raisins as ice breakers really to get them to approach me and trust me, and it was about 5 or 6pm by the time I gave this and they've eaten really well all day.

 

I will continue to offer them a small amount of different things around teatime.

 

Sounds like one of mine may already be in lay and the shock of the move caused her to lay a soft egg. The gingernuts still have slight yellowish to legs and their comb is not bright red yet so I am prepared to wait til they are ready. Delivery man said he thinks they are about 18 weeks.

[keyhole kate]

Hi new chicken mummy's

worse than having babies isen't it you all are doing the right things welcome to the forum and the addictive world of chickens I started with 4

KK

[tinaduffyjames]

Hi dotty chicken All in bed now. Took 12 bamboo canes though. Bit like Kerplunk Hope tomorrow is better. Think the driver came to me after you.

[Mollie333]

Congratulations o n your new girls.

[miss_spent]

Hello dottychicken et al. We had the same problem last night getting ours to go in the Eglu (first night). Torch didn't work and they looked totally confused like they knew that they had to go SOMEWHERE, they just didn't know where!!!

 

OH had to lift them in by getting in the run!! All very entertaining, and a bit messy for him (and he isn't a small man!)

 

Pleased to meet all you newbies like me. I love them so much already and would sit with them all day, but sadly I have to go to work!!!