ElvisFan Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 Hi We got our chicks just over a week ago and they started to free range in the garden last Friday, Nikki is lovely and is causing my no stress what so ever but Mayday seems to be living up to her name and getting into all kinds of s"Ooops, word censored!"es. We don't leave them alone in the garden but I seem to be running round after her constatnly, she has managed to get onto the conservatory roof, tip a bucket up over herself, launch herself from the garden wall at next doors hedge and totaly miss and then get herself tangled up in the grape vine and ended up almost dangling upside down, she also refuses to go to bed herself, Nikki takes herself off but Mayday is still running around at 10.30pm if you let her I have to put her in the run and then she will go in. I am really worried she is going to hurt herself or am I just being paranoid and should let her get on with it ? Also if I leave them in the run when I get home she goes mad clucking and calling to get out and runs in and out of the water making it filthy so I don't think there is much chance of me going away over night any time soon, am I doing too much, and being over protective or am I destined to sit in the garden for the next 5 years providing an emergency service to our evil kenivel bird ????? Advise would be greatly appreaciated . thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 Has her wing been clipped ? Try coaxing her into the run a bit earlier before it gets dark with treats or corn (foxes tend to come at dusk) and she will probably go to bed at a reasonable time She sounds a bit nervous of her new surroundings - try leaving them in the run for longer in the mornings so they know where home is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alet_chicken Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 What a crazy chick! How old are they? And what breed? In general hens tend to calm down a bit once they start laying (mine has). But some breeds are naturally more active than others... As for getting them back into the run reliably, I have a designated treat pot, and whenever they see me with it, or hear me shaking corn in it, even the wildest ones come like little lambs. I agree, clipping her wing is a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gelbel Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 (edited) Elvis, I'd not FR them for a while. Mayday is probably doing all the running around as she is getting excited as she expects to be let out. My girls still make a load of noise anytime I go outside but they have stopped the screaming (and in Ada's case trying to climb the wall of the WIR door) and trying to bash the door down in expectation of being let out. She will soon learn that when you go to see them after work it is to say hello and not to be let out to FR. She'll soon calm down. Don't worry about the water - the muckier the better in most chooks' opinion. Ada used to go from running up the door to using the Glug as a footbath if I did not let them out - but she's stopped. As her for escapades when she is out - sounds like a wing needs clipping if she is a jumper. But bucket knocking over etc is common place. If you can use netting to cordon off their FR area and don't have anything in that area other than the natural ground/plants etc (although a log or something 'natural' for perching would be nice) she can't come to any harm. I only let mine FR on Saturdays and/or Sundays. Sunday is a big day out for them - but I pop them back in the run at 6pm at this time of the year. In winter I'd put them back in by 3pm. I have never let them put themselves to bed from FRing - if anything I want some 'don't want to have to worry about the chooks' time before I go to bed and, if I'm honest hours of keeping an eye on them can get a bit boring and ties you down. Edited July 6, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElvisFan Posted July 6, 2010 Author Share Posted July 6, 2010 Hi, thanks for the adivce so far, its nice to know that there are so many people ready to calm my jitters They are still kids I guess, 18 weeks, they both have their wings clipped, I was amazed when she got as high as she did ! She doesn't seem nervous at all quite the opposite in fact, and over confident if that makes sence. They haven't started laying yet so hopefully that may calm her down a bit and I will defiantely try the treat pot idea, normally I have to get her down from somewhere to put her in the run but she may get down herself that way ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
