Feeder doors keep closing when I walk away

[chestnutmare]

They've had over a week to settle so today we wanted to check our girls over. We picked Snowy and Belle up from the run and put into a box to carry to an empty stable just a few steps away for a check over. But they both escaped out of the flimsy box. No problems though as my corn tub and whisling got them into the stable.

Snowy crouched and was easy to pick up. Belle was fairly easy to pick up too.

 

Willow, however was fast and did not want to be picked up. It took a few attempts. I've read Columbines can be nervy but she eats from our hand and comes close to us when in the Eglu or run. Is she likely to become less nervy? Do we continue to handle her weekly for a check up? I know checking her is for her own good but I don't want to stress her more than needs be. Ahhh, poor Willow.

[Ewsee]

Hello

The exact same thing happened to me. It takes around 2/3 weeks for them to get used to you.

Don't attept to pick them up if they look scared or are running around, simply let them take food out your hand, or let them run around, try and sit on the floor/chair near them, then after a while, they will let you naturally pick them up, and every thing will be peaceful, and they will like you too Don't rush this else it will take longer....

 

Hope this helps....

[scarlettohara]

My columbines are mental They shriek and run about at the slightest thing, the only way I can catch them is to corner them I forgive them though as they lay lovely

[Sageandonion]

I've handled ours again today to put diatom powder on them. Funky Chicken took it in her stride as usual but Peckers and Luna were less than impressed. I ended up getting as much diatom powder on me as the girls - OH thought it was most amusing - still no red mite for me I guess

 

I don't know if this is right or wrong but when they've gone to bed at night and I'm pottering about clearing away the food etc I've started giving them a stroke as they're nice and calm just to get them used to me.

[chestnutmare]

We can get close to Willow, hand feed her etc. Today we needed to try to catch pick her up because we needed to get her back in the - so it was a quick bit of diatom and back in the . We don't have a WIR the safe place to check over was the empty stable.

 

Oh great, Scarlett - I have a mental chicken. She's lovely though and she comes close to us so why we couldn't pick her up I don't know. And no crouching going on. *sigh* She was getting wet in the rain and she did look a bit fo a sight, ah love her. She laid her second today.

 

I put diatom powder on ours today too. I don't think us humans are meant to inhale it but we must have because it was everywhere, everything was wet and we had a crazy chicken. Will give them a stoke tomorrow night before tucking them in. I hope she gets used to me/being picked up. I don't want it to be difficult for us when it's essential for her to be checked.

[Gertie]

Did your exam of Snowy reveal anything? Is she still sniffling? Hope not. It must have been a day for diatom. I too ended up covered in it. I don't know how else to put it on them other than when they are sat on my lap!

 

I don't have any experience of Columbines, the eggs look lovely though. Hope she gets easier to handle. Mine all came from a smallish breeder and I was amazed at how tame they were. Jumping on my knee within a week. My first hens were not tame though, but they did get more confident as time passed. I find food always helps!!

[chestnutmare]

Snowy seems fine and I only heard her sneeze once today. Although I'm no expert! She seems okay in herself.

 

Any amazing treats to encourage Willow? They love corn and she was eating the stuff, but she's just too fast!

[Gertie]

Um, well they adore mealworms & squashed snails (no I didn't squash it - keen gardening friend did who hates snails), mine love greens & apples too. I pretend I'm doing somethimg else then come in from above so they usually crouch & are easy to get. Also, I usually diatom & examine them in the evening after they have gone to bed but before it gets dark, they are calmer then. I use a head torch if I need light!

 

I think I need help as I am addicted to this forum!

[Poached Egg]

It's fab isn't it!

 

Our Skyline (essentially same as a Columbine) was a bit like that at first. She was the first to take food from our hands, but was wary of being picked up. She isn't the first to jump on a lap or easiest to pick up but when she waddles/trots away makes me think of Hattie Jacques/Carry On doing it for the fun. She loves a cuddle when she is up and sometimes falls asleep on a lap.

 

Definitely diatom Sunday - our 6 year old helped and we all got covered. No lice problem for our kids at school

[soapdragon]

Hello

 

We got our three LS bantams at 8 weeks old precisely so that we could get them hand tame for our two boys of 6 and 3. For the first 8 to 10 weeks I picked them up and gave them a very gentle cuddle and lots of praise when I went out to shut the Eglu door at night. By this time the girls are relaxed and sleepy and don't seem to mind at all. Now they come running up as soon as we open the back door and Casserole actually followed me back into the kitchen on Saturday; clearly chasing after her home made mash!

 

This has worked very well with two of our girls but Kiev remains a bundle of nerves! I guess it depends on the individual.

 

Good luck!

Korma

Kiev

Casserole

[C&T]

2 of ours are no problem to pick up. The other one (a LS Hybrid) is near impossible....

 

We can only "get her" in the evening after dark, taking her out of the coop for check overs etc. This way she is much calmer, and as long as we are fairly quick, she doesn't get too stressed! She is very friendly - eats out of our hand and gets under our feet etc - just hates being picked up.

 

We tried hard to begin with to try and get her used to being picked up - but after a while there was no improvement and if anything it was making her worse - so we now just accept and love her as she is!