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[Mercedes55]

Our 4 new girls, who we got yesterday, are very noisy in a chirping kind of way when it's getting dark. Last night as it was their first night here we thought it was because they didn't know where their coop was and had a lot of trouble getting them into the Eglu.

 

Tonight we were confident that having realised the Eglu is where they sleep that as it got dark they would go in there. However as soon as it started to get dark and right beyond getting dark, they were all getting quite worked up as if they weren't sure what to do. Twice we tried the torch method but that did nothing and my OH had to go into the WIR and pick them up, just like last night, and pop them into the Eglu.

 

Now I know they are still young, only being 14wks old, but our ex batts only had to be shown once where their Eglu was and the next night they put themselves to bed. Is there anything we are doing wrong or something else we can try to get them to go to bed without them getting all stressed out. I know usually hens are more docile when it's dark but ours were quite the opposite

[Redwing]

Chicks I have raised this year have all done this at some point.

 

Its more pronounced in my lot where chicks have been raised with no coop (ie loose in a shed/stable) and where the light goes quite quickly (artificial lighting for instance) - I dont know why they do it but would guess its chattering to make sure the group is together

[Mercedes55]

Thanks for that, yes I guess that does make sense. We were a bit worried that something was wrong with them as we have no previous experience of young hens.

[CallyChook]

My hatchlings have been raised indoors in large rabbit cages as brooders, so have artificial light and didnt have to go anywhere to put themselves to bed. They've been out in the garden with their new permanent home, a shed, for five nights, and as yet none of them have gone to bed. Every evening they huddle in a corner or behind a garden chair, and have to be lifted into the shed to be locked up for the night.

 

I had hoped that by this point they might have gotten the idea, but apparently 10 week old polands are a little bit dumb.

 

This afternoon is set to be their first encounter with rain, I'm on standby to usher them into the large shed should they all lack the brain power to get in from the downpour themselves! The 7 week silkies and polands will definitely need encouragement as they really are silly little things.

[helen1962]

My baby hens were the same. It was quite funny really because I had raised them in the lounge *(odd I know) and when they were finally put outside they continually wanted to get back in the house. Another thing about them was they had to have a sit on my knee before they went to bed. I soon began to realise that raising chicks is quite detrimental to them as they have no-one (mother hen I mean) to learn from and it is that bit of guidance they need. Of curse they are fine now but when they were little they desperately tried to copy my two ex-batts but tose two were having none of it! Anyway all get on very well now but regards to your question I think they panic because ordinary instinct has not kicked in due to their young age. Ours continued like this for about 3 weeks where I would literally have to gather them up and place them in their bed.

[Mercedes55]

We were quite worried last night as it was pouring down with rain and we had to go out and get some growers pellets for the new girls. As we drove into the drive around 8pm we were debating as to whether or not they would have had the sense to go to bed or would they all be walking around chirping madly. We were so pleased when we crept down the garden and looked inside the WIR with a torch to see that all 4 had put themselves to bed, bless them.

 

My OH said that when he picked them up they were in a wooden coop that was inside a huge WIR and as it was in the middle of a huge field he didn't think they had any lighting there and they were left to just come and go as they pleased. I'm wondering if maybe they had just been sleeping outside all the time and hadn't associated the Eglu with going to bed at night.

[scarlettohara]

What good girls My babies WIR is coming today I hope they do the same as the new will be on a platform.

[Mercedes55]

What good girls My babies WIR is coming today I hope they do the same as the new will be on a platform.

 

Hope it goes well for you too, look forward to seeing pics of your new WIR

 

I'd like my Eglu on a table or something, still trying to find one that is strong enough for it as I think the new girls will be in the Eglu for some time

[scarlettohara]

I have a green camping table in the big girls WIR that I got from argos (had the on for intros) - it has 2 heights and cost £7 However they are currently about £15.

[Mercedes55]

I have a green camping table in the big girls WIR that I got from argos (had the on for intros) - it has 2 heights and cost £7 However they are currently about £15.

 

I never thought of a camping table, good idea, thanks for that