Mygoditsraining Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 Hi all. We've just got our first three hens (and Eglu - no blue in stock! *sob*) and are getting them settled in to their new home. http://mygoditsraining.co.uk/?p=644 They are a little shy at the moment; they will come right up to us if we stay (relatively) still but get a bit chippy when picked up (the black doesn't seem to mind so much, the ranger is a grumpy little thing). We got two eggs from the older hens yesterday, which I think was just eggs they had been "building up" at the smallholding we bought them from. There was one "softie" this morning, and we're looking forward to seeing more. How long do hens take to settle in, in people's experiences? We tried to give ours a few bits of corn last night as a treat but they turned their collective noses up at it, so I was thinking it might just be a little bit of first-night nerves on their part. Also, does anyone have any tips on shooing the hens into the Eglu on the first few evenings? I had to climb inside the run to do it last night, and since they'd decided to break in their new home by pooping all over it, it wasn't the most pleasant experience. Oh! Another thing - they poop *so much*. Don't they ever stop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karena Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 I only got mine 2 weeks ago, so I'm not really an expert. The pic of them in the box reminds me of mine when they arrived, only there were in a smaller box so were just a layer of feathers with heads What do you mean by settle in? I find mine much the same as when I first got them. They scratch around a lot, eat a lot, look startled at unusual noises a bit. They ignore things I put in the run at whim, and love others seemingly randomly. I have never put mine in the Eglu. They always go in by themselves, although first night 2 did sleep on a branch in the run instead. And I must be the only person that doesn't think they poo that much From here I was expecting loads, and I can sit and watch them for hours and there's only the odd bit. And it very mysteriously disappears I find - their run is all dirt with lots of tree debris so maybe that is why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mygoditsraining Posted August 29, 2010 Author Share Posted August 29, 2010 They ignore things I put in the run at whim, and love others seemingly randomly. This is the bit that's been confusing me. I've been reading all the advice on what treats they can have/when they can have it, but when I tried to give them something that chickens are meant to go nuts for (corn) they ignored it and focussed instead on trying to peck at a brown leaf they'd found. This morning, I found the leaf inside the nesting box. So yeah, just wanted to check they weren't nervous or any more insane than chickens normally are. The volume of poop is a little bit freaky, though. That, and they completely ignore the big, easy to clean tray that they are meant to poop in, instead favouring places where the other hens can trample through it. Which they do. Frequently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 They do take a while to settle down tummy-wise after a move, the poo frequency will probably not decrease but the poo will get smaller and firmer Garlic powder in the feed cuts down on smells as does Bokashi bran which has the added benefit of firming things up When you have chickens you do tend to talk a lot about poo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karena Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 They ignore things I put in the run at whim, and love others seemingly randomly. This is the bit that's been confusing me. I've been reading all the advice on what treats they can have/when they can have it, but when I tried to give them something that chickens are meant to go nuts for (corn) they ignored it and focussed instead on trying to peck at a brown leaf they'd found. Mine don't eat corn on the cob. The chicken corn you buy in a packet they do. (I am still trying with the cob though) Mine don't eat cabbage if hung up, but they love it if I peel bits off for them They love green stuff poked in, weeds, loganberry stalks and leaves, basically whatever I find that it says isn't poisonous, although today they are ignoring their leaves, possibly as it is in proximity to the corn on the cob and they have had all sorts of leftovers, rice, noodles, lettuce, tomatoes. Basically if you put it in their evening treat bowl they eat whatever it is it seems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerryegg Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 Mine seem to love any treats, corn on cob is the favorite but it took them a couple of days to realise food wasn't just Omlet pellets. I do soften hard veg in the mico wave before serving due to their lack of teeth though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbie Rooke Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 Hi I've only had my girls for 3 weeks but they settled in really quickly. They love sweetcorn and I put it in a blue plastic cat bowl about 4 pm and they come running from the end of the garden to gobble it up in 5 mins. The chicken corn I bought they turned their noses up at first but now they like it, sultanas they don't like but grapes yes, and we have blackberries on a bush in our local field where I walk the dog and I pick them a few and they love those. Rice and pasta they love , not keen on brocolli tho', I guess chickens are like humans they all have their likes and dislikes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherbet Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 Hi - My chooks take themselves to bed as soon as it starts getting dark, i just go out and close the door to the Eglus & the run. I kept them in the run when i first got them for 3 days (omlet suggest at least 7 days) 3 days seemed enough for them to realise that this was 'home'. As for the poo!..i was thinking of changeing my name to no 1 champion poo picker, as thats all i do at the end of the day, go round the garden poo picking! But it all goes in the composter so hopefully will have some good compost next year! I have also been baking their egg shells and grinding them up & feed back to them for extra grit/calcium. I have had to cut down on their treats tho, spaggetti & grapes as i had a couple of softie eggs, but it wasn't easy as they come running as soon as i open the back door, they think mummy has treats for them. I do love my chooks ...sooooo much. OH is making me a walk in run for the winter months as am concerned about the amount of time they will be in the run attached to the Eglu,during the day when i am at work and i won't be able to get in it to clean it. Will also have a light in it so i can see to clean it out when i get home from work. Don't worry about getting your chooks in, they will get into the habit of taking themselves to bed am sure. I know one thing, since i have had my chooks (6th July) i am always outside, cleaning & poo picking, feeding & talking to them, so much better than staying indoors! Lynne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
