Clairey_Fairy Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 We are first time chicken keepers and got our first chickens today! Ruby (Columbian Black Tail) and Stella (Bovans Nera) seem very happy in their new and run, which arrived on Tuesday. At the moment we have them on grass, but plan to put the and run on woodchip. Might as well let them enjoy and then ruin the grass first! I spent all afternoon sat on the deck watching their every move, they were quick to find food and water, and I admit I found a few treats for them! My hubby had to 'encourage' them into the tonight, but I can't wait to let them out in the morning! And probably spend all day watching them! (Even though I am working the night shift tonight and should be sleeping tomorrow). Do you think it will be OK to let them FR in our garden on Tuesday, (I have a day off work to spend with them!), or is this too soon? The garden is not very big and well enclosed. And Stella already had bit of a FR earlier as she escaped from the box when we got the girls home! Can't wait for our first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 Hi CF and welcome to the world of chickens. I'd leave them in for the first 5 to 7 days, just so they know where home is. I couldn't see where you are but is the FR area safe from foxes and other preditors? Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gelbel Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Everyone has different ideas - I let mine out after a few days - so if I were you Clairey_Fairy Tuesday would be fine. You may find they are slow to leave the run - let them do their own thing and be on hand all the time. Enjoy your girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trougher Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Hi there, congratulations on getting your first chickens! We got our first chickens yesterday (3 ex-batts). What time did you put them to bed? Have you let them out this morning? Ours won't come out of the house yet, but I don't blame them, as although their enclosed run is covered, it's still pretty damp. We have had two eggs though! I was thinking that we would keep ours in the run for 3 days, and possibly let them out into the garden on Tuesday - I am home most of the time at present, being a (mature) student, so can be out there with them. Look forward to seeing how you are getting on. Lynne Cleopatra, Henrietta and Lucky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Congratulations to both of you. I get just as excited with new chickens even though I've had hens since 2008. It doesn't matter if they don't come to you as long as you can gently herd them back into the run on Tuesday. I would stay with them though. Have fun chicken watching. You'll need a brolly today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clairey_Fairy Posted September 19, 2010 Author Share Posted September 19, 2010 Thanks for advice. And congrats on your ex-batts! My poor girls were a little earlier to bed last night than normal as I was working and hubby had to go out, and a little later out this morning too as they had to wait for me to get home from work. But they were fine, came straight out for food, quietly clucking. But they are from a farm and were free ranging in a field, so quite different to your ex-batts, and also it;s not raining here. Then I opened the egg port and sat in the nest were 2 perfect little eggs! (They are tiddlers, but the girls won't have been laying long). I am a very proud chicken mummy! Ruby is now clucking away sat in the nest box. I would think she was laying an egg, but I've already had 2 form 2 chickens today? Also, got some top soil for a dust bath, but it's not very 'dusty'. It's quite wet/damp. Should I get some sand to mix with it, and what is best to put it in. I feel they should have something in the run for when they are not free ranging. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Congratulations I usually wait 5 days and if you are there to supervise think they will be fine. I use Argos play sand for £3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clairey_Fairy Posted September 19, 2010 Author Share Posted September 19, 2010 I think they had play sand in Tesco, so I'll pop out later and get them some, along with maybe a large plant pot to put it in. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clairey_Fairy Posted September 19, 2010 Author Share Posted September 19, 2010 Confused Day 1, 2 chickens, 3 eggs! There were 2 eggs waiting for me when I let them out this morning, then Ruby was making a fuss in the nest box, would have thought 'maybe she's laying?' but I already had 2 eggs. Just had a look as was going to clean out and threre is another egg! So if my maths is right, one of my chooks (maybe Ruby) has laid 2 eggs, in one day? Is this normal? I'm not complaining! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Has your partner got a sense of humour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clairey_Fairy Posted September 19, 2010 Author Share Posted September 19, 2010 He's not even here! I'm home alone. I picked them up at 10am yesterday, they then spent a good hour in the Eglu till I let them into the run. Could one of them maybe have 'saved' yesterday's egg, which she didn't lay with moving etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Confused Day 1, 2 chickens, 3 eggs! There were 2 eggs waiting for me when I let them out this morning, then Ruby was making a fuss in the nest box, would have thought 'maybe she's laying?' but I already had 2 eggs. Just had a look as was going to clean out and threre is another egg! So if my maths is right, one of my chooks (maybe Ruby) has laid 2 eggs, in one day? Is this normal? I'm not complaining! I've once had two eggs in one day from Blodwyn. I know they are her eggs because they are distinctive dark brown and speckled. She had a day off laying, then went to bed in the evening. In the morning I went out and there were three eggs including one of Blodwyn's in the nest box. The next afternoon, she looked a bit agitated and went into the cube nest box and laid another egg. She's only done this once though, and the other big girls haven't done it ever. The banties are too young to lay yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Yup, I've had more than one in a day. A colleague at work swears her chickens laid 2 eggs each day each for the first year she had them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trougher Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 In less than 24 hours we have had 4 eggs from our three new ex-batts! We know which chicken laid her second egg (Lucky ) as we saw her doing it, but not sure who laid the other three. Assuming, however, that this afternoon's was not Lucky's first, she has clearly laid two eggs in a day. Will be interesting to see if that happens often, but hopefully it means they are settling in. Lynne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Obviously keen to impress Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clairey_Fairy Posted September 19, 2010 Author Share Posted September 19, 2010 I might give mine a pencil so they can write their name and time laid on the eggs, so I know who laid what and when! We have very clever hens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
