Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[Doody]

Hi,

 

Firstly thank you for being so supportive and kind regarding my posts. Im a new chicken owner, only been 3 days now, but so far so good. Chickens are happy, already getting a little cheeky, and laying 2 to 3 eggs a day. Right, so i think i have the feeding and cleaning bit sorted now to the next level, which worries me a little.

 

Obviously i would like my chickens to have plenty of room to free range. We have a big garden, and im sure they would love to have a walk around/scratch and find food etc. Our garden is in two sections if it makes sense, we have a flower/plants/vegetables at the bottom of the garden, down 3 steps etc. Then we have a larged lawned area, then we have a bit of a rough patch area.

 

I would like the chickens to be able to walk around and chill out while we are in the garden only. As im still very concerned about the neighbours cats. However i have noticed him looking more scared by the day of the chickens lol. I have only had them 3 days, so at what time/day should you think it would be ok for me to let them out, another week? two weeks? longer?

 

So i want to let them out to have a walk etc, but i dont know what is the best way to do it, and scared i wont get them back in the pen etc. The first thing i must do is buy some wire mesh, as there are a couple of gaps on the one side of the garden. This is also how i think the cats are getting in.

 

So, how do i start? Just let them out, sit down and watch, have food on me, put a food and water bowl in the garden??

 

Help? I just want to get it right, as i would be mortified if i did it wrong and they got attacked or lost etc. I dont know if they will run from me, or follow me. But like i mentioned before, they are already really cheeky, and watch me as i walk around the garden, and come right up to me when i approach the coop. They also seem to like being stroked too.

 

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

 

Regards

 

Mark

[Henslaved]

I kept mine confined to the coop and run for a week. Then let them out when I was around to keep an eye on them.

 

Bribery with treats is always a good way to entice them back into the run at bedtime

 

I would definitely block up any holes in the garden, chickens are great escape artists and like to explore

[Chucky Mama]

I don't do waiting and so let mine out the day I got them (don't think this is recommended though ) My garden is secured by walls. They took themselves off to bed on the first night without any prompting - thankfully. My garden has never been so cat free. Even my shyest chicken was seen giving a local cat what for when it dared to venture into our garden I think the thing to do is to firstly secure your garden, then arm yourself with a tub of mealworms (to help tempt them back in if you need to) a glass of wine and a comfy chair so that you can supervise their first foray. Mine stayed quite close to the Cube for about 2 weeks and didn't venture to the end of the garden where all the best scratching areas were for about a month.

[migsy]

Don't worrry about cats. I have 2 cats and there are loads of cats in my neighbourhood. The local cats can only dream of catching a hen! They like to stalk them, but they never actually harm them. The hens are used to them now. It is foxes you have to worry about, even if you have never seen one. Don't let your hens out after dusk and keep an eye on them when they are out.

 

Good luck. Sounds like you are doing fine!

[JanTheDiver]

I kept mine in the small run for a week too, after that they automatically knew to go there at bed time and when they were scared of anything, I think they feel it is a safe place to be.

 

Good luck with your girls, enjoy them

[Sherbet]

Molly Macy

Hi Doody - i am also a newby, only got mine yesterday, i was very nervous and couldn't rest until they arrived. They were very very vocal at first but soon settled. I am sure M&M are desperate to be let out, but was told by the Man from omlet to keep them in for at least 5 days to get them used to thier new home, not sure they are going to be happy about that as they keep walking up & down and looking out at the garden. Our garden isn't large, but well fenced. My 1 cat is not the slightist bothered but the other one legs it everytime they move or make a noise. Will be interesting to see what others say.

 

Lynne

[chuckmum6]

Best advice I can offer is to get them used to coming to you for tasty treats, if they will eat from your hand all the better, if you make a clucking sound (like a mother hen uses to call her chicks) then you will find they come running back to you. Mine just have to see me and they come zooming out from under bushes etc, to see if I have something for them! I would suggest that this is also the best way to get them back in to there coop, I throw in some corn and just close the run on the last one. You may find they will need a bit of herding to get them back in initially.

 

As they are so new to you I would hang fire on giving them free roaming just yet, can you sit in the run with them get them used to you? Or can you section of a bit of your garden near the coop to keep them fairly close, then they can get back into their home if they feel insecure? Advice is generally to keep them in for a week until they really feel at home in their coop and with you.

You haven't said what breed you girls are, if they are tiny then the cat might be a threat, however if they are big (yours are laying so they must be pretty big) then the cat is likely to be more at risk, eventually! However, I would invest in a water pistol for they early days, to discourage that cat, and to allow your girls to feel confident in their new garden.

Do block up your holes - Omlet netting is good, as you can keep them contained and off you flowers, but it also restricts their wanderings in the early days.

Congratulations on becoming a new chicken owner, it is a great hobby - good luck!

[Doody]

Molly Macy

Hi Doody - i am also a newby, only got mine yesterday, i was very nervous and couldn't rest until they arrived. They were very very vocal at first but soon settled. I am sure M&M are desperate to be let out, but was told by the Man from omlet to keep them in for at least 5 days to get them used to thier new home, not sure they are going to be happy about that as they keep walking up & down and looking out at the garden. Our garden isn't large, but well fenced. My 1 cat is not the slightist bothered but the other one legs it everytime they move or make a noise. Will be interesting to see what others say.

 

Lynne

 

 

Its scary at first isnt it lol lol......

[Doody]

Don't worrry about cats. I have 2 cats and there are loads of cats in my neighbourhood. The local cats can only dream of catching a hen! They like to stalk them, but they never actually harm them. The hens are used to them now. It is foxes you have to worry about, even if you have never seen one. Don't let your hens out after dusk and keep an eye on them when they are out.

 

Good luck. Sounds like you are doing fine!

 

 

Yeah, foxes worry me. However although i have never seen one the neighbour said he saw one a few months ago. I would never keep them out late though, and i would always be in the garden when they are out. I guess you can only do your best!! If Mr Fox wants them, i guess he could get them.......worrying.

[Doody]

Best advice I can offer is to get them used to coming to you for tasty treats, if they will eat from your hand all the better, if you make a clucking sound (like a mother hen uses to call her chicks) then you will find they come running back to you. Mine just have to see me and they come zooming out from under bushes etc, to see if I have something for them! I would suggest that this is also the best way to get them back in to there coop, I throw in some corn and just close the run on the last one. You may find they will need a bit of herding to get them back in initially.

 

As they are so new to you I would hang fire on giving them free roaming just yet, can you sit in the run with them get them used to you? Or can you section of a bit of your garden near the coop to keep them fairly close, then they can get back into their home if they feel insecure? Advice is generally to keep them in for a week until they really feel at home in their coop and with you.

You haven't said what breed you girls are, if they are tiny then the cat might be a threat, however if they are big (yours are laying so they must be pretty big) then the cat is likely to be more at risk, eventually! However, I would invest in a water pistol for they early days, to discourage that cat, and to allow your girls to feel confident in their new garden.

Do block up your holes - Omlet netting is good, as you can keep them contained and off you flowers, but it also restricts their wanderings in the early days.

Congratulations on becoming a new chicken owner, it is a great hobby - good luck!

 

Thank you, i like the water pistol idea lol lol...

 

My chickens are Isa Browns, i have 3 of them. They are pretty big girls, and the two cats that appear in the garden are no older than 10 months old. So i guess they are in for a experience soon with a chicken lol.

[C&T]

You might also want to fence off your veggies / any plants you want to keep...

 

Chooks can clear a veg patch in minutes - and their feet will kill what they don't eat... Having said that, they are great at clearing a veg patch up at the end of the season - raking it over, and eating all the slugs and snails as well as all the other nasties in the soil ready for the next year - and their poo really improves the salad crops!

 

The Omlet netting is very good for this, and means that we can still grow stuff. I have tried explaining to the chooks that if they let things grow, then there will be a lot more to eat in the long term - but they don't seem to understand this

[Mercedes55]

I only got my hens on Saturday, they are all ex batts, so I was keen to let them out as soon as I could. We did open the door to the run on Sunday afternoon and one of them half came out then went back in.

 

Yesterday we let them out again in the evening. I have been told that it's better to let them out in the evening at first as they are more inclined to want to go back into the coop to sleep as they will be tired. So anyway we let them out and 3 of them were out at one point, I have got a couple of videos on here of them. They all made their own way back into the run, I think they feel safer in there and see it as their home

[Doody]

I only got my hens on Saturday, they are all ex batts, so I was keen to let them out as soon as I could. We did open the door to the run on Sunday afternoon and one of them half came out then went back in.

 

Yesterday we let them out again in the evening. I have been told that it's better to let them out in the evening at first as they are more inclined to want to go back into the coop to sleep as they will be tired. So anyway we let them out and 3 of them were out at one point, I have got a couple of videos on here of them. They all made their own way back into the run, I think they feel safer in there and see it as their home

 

Thats great, glad they went back in for you. Its like my childs first day at school all over again, worried sick about Saturday when its the big release lol..

[Mercedes55]

 

Thats great, glad they went back in for you. Its like my childs first day at school all over again, worried sick about Saturday when its the big release lol..

 

I worried much less when my son, who is now 32, had his first day at school, which somehow doesn't seem right

[Sherbet]

Molly Macy

 

It is so scary knowing that i have sole responsibility for these lovely creatures! Its doing wonders for my weight, as i don't seem to want to eat, i am all churned up! lol! The girls are really very good, everytime i go out to check on them, they think...ooohh what has she got! I think i will let them out Friday evening as suggested so they will be a wee bit tired and ready to go back, they definately love meal worms & corn! Its great to be able to look on here for tips & encouragement, i need loads at the moment!

 

Thanks everyone.

 

Lynne

[Doody]

Molly Macy

 

It is so scary knowing that i have sole responsibility for these lovely creatures! Its doing wonders for my weight, as i don't seem to want to eat, i am all churned up! lol! The girls are really very good, everytime i go out to check on them, they think...ooohh what has she got! I think i will let them out Friday evening as suggested so they will be a wee bit tired and ready to go back, they definately love meal worms & corn! Its great to be able to look on here for tips & encouragement, i need loads at the moment!

 

Thanks everyone.

 

Lynne

 

Its great to see that so many people really care about there chickens, trying to offer them the best diets, coops, runs, etc etc. Im really impressed with it all so far. I started off thinking small, but im not happy already, only been 3 days, and tomorrow im starting to chop some bushes down etc ready to make them a nice big run/theme park for chickens etc lol lol...

[migsy]

Join the club! It turns into a bit of an obsession (I mean hobby!)

[Mercedes55]

 

Its great to see that so many people really care about there chickens, trying to offer them the best diets, coops, runs, etc etc. Im really impressed with it all so far. I started off thinking small, but im not happy already, only been 3 days, and tomorrow im starting to chop some bushes down etc ready to make them a nice big run/theme park for chickens etc lol lol...

 

We are the same, just a few days after getting our ex batts we are planning to get a big WIR and a bigger coop so that we can get some more. I like the idea of a theme park

[Doody]

 

Its great to see that so many people really care about there chickens, trying to offer them the best diets, coops, runs, etc etc. Im really impressed with it all so far. I started off thinking small, but im not happy already, only been 3 days, and tomorrow im starting to chop some bushes down etc ready to make them a nice big run/theme park for chickens etc lol lol...

 

We are the same, just a few days after getting our ex batts we are planning to get a big WIR and a bigger coop so that we can get some more. I like the idea of a theme park

 

Yeh, Disneyland for Chickens lol....

 

Im literally looking at materials now to build a pen, im not the best at DIY, but ive been looking on wickes website and they seem to sell a large range of panels, fencing, posts etc. I only have the 3 Iris Browns, but the space of the run im looking at is about 12 x 12ft for them. Ill see though, not really had chance to work it out yet. Got some bushes etc i need to cut down which might give them a little more room....

[Janina Butterworth]

Its so heartening to see thats its just not me worrying about everything. I don't need to ask the question about when to let them out any more as you guys have done it for me!!

 

We will have had our girls a week on Sunday, so maybe if my nerves can stand it we might let them out. I know they love mealworms so hopefully they will be the bate needed to control them!!

[Doody]

Its so heartening to see thats its just not me worrying about everything. I don't need to ask the question about when to let them out any more as you guys have done it for me!!

 

We will have had our girls a week on Sunday, so maybe if my nerves can stand it we might let them out. I know they love mealworms so hopefully they will be the bate needed to control them!!

 

I let them go today, i wasnt fully brave as i made a makeshift fence. However they was great, they just stayed near my feet and if they did wonder off or under my makeshift i just walked upto them, picked them up and put them back in.

 

I just had a bag of treats at the ready incase it all went Pete Tong, luckily it all went well. Keep us posted with how you get on....

[Mercedes55]

 

Yeh, Disneyland for Chickens lol....

 

Im literally looking at materials now to build a pen, im not the best at DIY, but ive been looking on wickes website and they seem to sell a large range of panels, fencing, posts etc. I only have the 3 Iris Browns, but the space of the run im looking at is about 12 x 12ft for them. Ill see though, not really had chance to work it out yet. Got some bushes etc i need to cut down which might give them a little more room....

 

You certainly save money making your own run. I would be careful about what kind of wire you use for it though, I know chicken wire and other kinds of wire are fine for keeping the chickens in, but not sturdy enough to keep Mr Fox out. I think that weldmesh is the best stuff and it's what the places use that build the expensive runs.

 

I think it's also good to have a run that is big enough to get into, preferable without having to get down on your hands and knees, which is why I'm going to get one that is 6ft 6ins high and with a cover on the roof to keep them dry and to stop wild birds depositing their droppings into the run.

[Doody]

 

Yeh, Disneyland for Chickens lol....

 

Im literally looking at materials now to build a pen, im not the best at DIY, but ive been looking on wickes website and they seem to sell a large range of panels, fencing, posts etc. I only have the 3 Iris Browns, but the space of the run im looking at is about 12 x 12ft for them. Ill see though, not really had chance to work it out yet. Got some bushes etc i need to cut down which might give them a little more room....

 

You certainly save money making your own run. I would be careful about what kind of wire you use for it though, I know chicken wire and other kinds of wire are fine for keeping the chickens in, but not sturdy enough to keep Mr Fox out. I think that weldmesh is the best stuff and it's what the places use that build the expensive runs.

 

I think it's also good to have a run that is big enough to get into, preferable without having to get down on your hands and knees, which is why I'm going to get one that is 6ft 6ins high and with a cover on the roof to keep them dry and to stop wild birds depositing their droppings into the run.

 

I know, i must admit im not great at DIY, so im going to start nice and slow. Firstly i think i will make a run that is safe for them while im outside and sit with them. Once i have done this, i will work on a run like your getting, a nice big 6ft high run etc.

 

I have seen you can buy the panels already done for you which saves you work but not money. Like i said, im very new to this and think i will just try and improve week by week etc. Its all good fun though!!!

[debsygooch]

Hello everyone, I am so relieved to read that I am not the only one obsessed with her chickens Myrtle and Maisie are spoilt rotten and me and my OH are now looking at 12 x 12 ft WIR and cutting down a beautiful winter flowering jasmine to accomodate it!! We have had our girls since 30th April (and yes we will celebrate their first and on-going birthdays with cake and treats!) and I have to say I am smitten!!! i am really tempted to get some more chooks but will wait until the WIR Is assembled - Doody you sound like a great "parent" and I am sure your girls will love having you at their beck and call

[migsy]

My 6'x12' WIR has arrived today! Hopefully it will be put together tomorrow. I just have to order another eglu now to accommodate the extra chickens I will be getting (ex batts). At least I can buy another eglu without the run (£100 saved).