Chicken boarders

[Happily]

Hi, me again, so sorry to have so many questions. As soon as I think I have it all sorted something else happens!!

 

I've had the girls about 5 days and at first when I opened the coop in the morning they all trundled out into the run no problems but the last couple of days they have stayed in the cube. When I open the cube to check they are ok, two of them spot me and look at each other as if to say 'oh no it's Mum we're in trouble, come on lets go out' and they hurry out into the run. The other two just sit there like sulky teenagers and I have to shoo they out into the run. Once out they are all fine and start eating/drinking and scratching around.

 

Is this normal, are they just settling in and will eventually all just trot out when I open the cube in the morning? I have no problems putting them to bed, Poppy goes first and they all follow her in but in the mornings it's Poppy who won't go out

 

I really do apreciate all the help you guys are giving me and feel like I keep asking stupid questions, sorry to be such a pain.

[Margalot]

Hello,

 

I think they are probably just settling in, if they are young birds they seem to have periods of activity and napping, just like babies/ puppies!

 

I have only had my newer girls for a week today and They are only just getting themselves up and out. I like to leave the cube door open halfway so they can go to bed and get up when they choose. Also helps because if we go away for a weekend or are out for an evening I know they will be able to do it. for the first few days I had to put them to bed and when I opened the cube door they wouldnt come out straight away. Second few days they put themselves to bed with a wide open cube door and then I shut it to half way and left it....... result when I got up in the morning around 6.30am they were already up!

 

Last night the door was half open and that really confused them going to bed, they all sat on the ladder and one blocked the hole so had to open it a little bit wider for them!

 

I must admit I love to go peep when they are tucked up just to see how they are sleeping.....normally all in a big pile with the littlest underneath

[Happily]

Thanks for replying. They are all young - 12 weeks - so probably just settling in. I know what you mean about them all sleeping in one big pile. Mine also all keep blocking the door when they go up so the next one has to squeeze past them all

 

At the moment I shut the cube door when they have all put themsleves to bed as I am too scared to leave it open, although I want to give it a try for the same reasons as you, just need to be a bit braver first

[Guest]

My girls come hurtling out yet some days they are like a teen.

Leave me alone I want to stay in bed so I just leave to it.

[bridgy chooks]

We recently got two 20 week olds and I was worried about their periods of inactivity and the fact that even if they came out with our existing chicken in the morning, they would often return to the eglu after having a snack. I think I had just forgotten what young ones are like as they sit down and sleep in the run during the day too which Maggi (old chicken!) hardly ever does. 12 weeks is younger than ours so I would say it's normal and going by ours, they may be like it for a while longer

[Sue and the Spice Girls]

I don't bother to shut my girls (and boy) in the coop at all, unless the temperature is lower than -3! Otherwise they put themselves to bed, either near the door in the summer or further in as it gets colder.

They're out of the coop and in the rn by 5am, if Bertie's crowing is to be believed! I'm sure yours are just settling in, enjoy them, chickens are ace!

[Happily]

Thanks guys, I guess they are just ickle and they do sleep and rest quite a bit in the day but seem happy enough in general and move like lightening when they are mealworms to be had

[chickenlady]

Hi Ya

 

Mine are up and down the cube ladder now, I have put a small tree log thing at the bottom of the ladder and still Mrs Pekin wasn't keen to go up, I then propped another one going up the ladder and they all use it now to go up and down. Rose (Mrs Pekin) is much happier and now coming out. Saying that it was raining this morning and she wasn't keen

 

Did send you a pm back on Monday but not sure if you got it !

 

x

[Happily]

Hi chickenlady, glad mrs pekin has got the hang of the ladder now. I did get your pm but it slipped from my memory to reply - sorry hun am on hols from work at the mo and my brain has gone to mush - I blame the stupidly hot weather!

 

Still getting the hang of this chicken malarky but am enjoying the girls and am amazed at how different they all are. Millicent is in charge I think - she goes into the cube first in the evenings and sits to one side of the door way until everyone is in an dthen has a good look around outside to make sure no-one is in the run and then wanders in herself They are so funny last night they were all queued up on the ladder last night one behind the other waiting for ther turn to go in it was hilarious