Part 0800.0005

[tinaduffyjames]

Hi, after my post last night about getting my chickens to bed for the first time all has calmed down now. They spent a quiet night in the eglu. I woke at 4.30am worried in case they woke the neighbours wanting out, but they were silent and i let them out at 6.30. In the eglu was an egg with no shell which I removed but Nellie who I thought was quite subdued yesterday is very perky today so maybe the egg was hers and now she feels better. I went to the farm and came back home around 11.30 am and surprise surprise I GOT AN EGG - yippee. Very small but it is still an egg. Not sure who laid it but Edna the pepperpot was in the eglu when I left this morning so maybe it was her. Have poo picked the droppings tray ( not offensive in any way) and now they seem quite happy in the run. I could quite happily sit and watch them all day and the temptation to try and pick one up is very great. But the man from Omlet said to leave them for a few days before handling them. Even so, I would feel happier if I could check nellie out as She is devoid of feathers under the tail and seems a bit pooey. She seems the most timid one so it may just be due to the stress yesterday and I think someone suggested she may have been picked on before she came to me. The others dont seem to be bothering her and I havent seen any feather pecking so hopefully they will grow back and her poo consistency will improve. So far so good I love my chickens !

[scarlettohara]

That's eggcellent Everyone says that a softee can make them feel a bit poorly. I picked all my chickens up from day one and apart from the Bluebelles who are still a little shy they are all quite happy to be handled

[sewitall]

I found that my chickens are getting more friendly with me as each day goes by. So far I have managed to pick up 2 of the hens but like you I have a timid, slightly smaller ginger nut who hasn't laid yet and although I can stroke her lightly she shies away quickly. I think your timid one will become more amenable to picking up once she starts crouching for you. I try to make sure that she gets extras first before the other two muscle in. My pepper pot has laid smaller but normal eggs so far whereas my ginger nut laid another softie last night although it was whole so I have saved it for cooking immediately. But she still went into the nestbox for 1.5 hours today to lay an egg which never came (I guess because it came during the night). Strange behaviour. Like you I was pleasantly surprised at how quiet they have been apart from the occasional crow. And I love the way they engage in conversation with me. You might fair better if you try and pick her up this evening, just before it gets too dark and they go to bed. Mine tend to be more calm then. Perhaps for the first time just hold her for 30 seconds or so and talk gently to her before lowering her to the ground again.

[Mollie333]

Glad everythings going O.K.

softies can make then be a little under the weather.. but after that there fine, back to there normall selves..