Splicola Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Hello everyone. My first ever chickens and their Eglu Cube arrived this afternoon. I am also a natural worrier. Does anyone have any tips to get me through the first night with this difficult combination?? Thanks, Nicola. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Congratulations - you'll be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyChickenLover- Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Hi Nicola! Welcome to the forum Congratulations on getting your new girls! Your girls are in good hands I was worried sick when it was my girls' first night in the Elgu - I kept looking out the window and running outide every 2 minutes to check on them! They're very safe inside the Eglu though, don't worry about it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splicola Posted May 17, 2011 Author Share Posted May 17, 2011 Thanks. I might sleep in the back room over-looking the garden tonight just to be safe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splicola Posted May 17, 2011 Author Share Posted May 17, 2011 I know it's normal for them to establish their pecking order but should I worry about shutting them all up together in the hen house when two have been chased around by the other two all day?? Will they peck them badly when enclosed in the house??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JS1 Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Hopefully not if it's dark and they are sleepy (in my limited experience) and if you get up and let them out nice and early. When I got my first three two of them picked on the third absolutely horribly during daylight hours, but it so cheered me to see them cuddled together at night. Now, incidentally, the bullied girl is head hen and bosses my nine others! My main tip is to make sure your chickens have more than one place they can eat and drink. It did the trick for me. Good luck and here's to your first eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splicola Posted May 17, 2011 Author Share Posted May 17, 2011 Thank you. That gives me the reassurance to get some sleep! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Good stuff! Welcome to the form! Can we see some photos of your new girls soon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splicola Posted May 17, 2011 Author Share Posted May 17, 2011 Absolutely! When I let them out for the first time this weekend I will take lots of pics - can't wait! Managed to get the last one in the door finally and shut it quick - hope she's ok. She sheepishly ran past the bullies who were sitting the doorway and when I peeked in the top was sitting at the other end...fortunately enough room for them to spread out. Will definitely put extra food and water tomorrow morning. My budgies fight over food, I didn't realise my chickens would! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splicola Posted May 18, 2011 Author Share Posted May 18, 2011 Can I ask another silly question...today has been quite wet and while I was at work, the girls got rained on quite a bit. The run is on paving slabs so not messy but there is a little bit of dirt around the edge which I thought might be nice for them to scratch about it but it has turned into a big muddy mess. Their legs are quite dirty as they have clearly been digging! Is there anything I can use or do to reduce this and what do I do when they get wet? They look so fragile but I'm sure I'm worrying endlessly....I've got a cover but I think this is only really good for providing shade - what do other people do when it rains if the run is not under cover? Get a bigger one? Help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 I'm sure someone will be along soon who has more experience of Omlet housing, but I know some people use a transparent shower curtain over part of the run to keep the rain off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splicola Posted May 18, 2011 Author Share Posted May 18, 2011 That's brilliant, thank you!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 Clear shower curtains are good, Tarpaflex do clear tarpaulins if you fancy something more robust or you can use clear corrugated plastic from Wickes or B&Q you may need to cut this though.. the tarpaulin would probably look the neatest though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacake Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 hurray for new chickens! have you named them! we got our 4 chickens 3 1/2 weeks ago and got our first today!!!!!!! enjoy chicken watching - it takes up a lot of time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Who's gonna eat that precious egg? No fighting now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splicola Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share Posted May 20, 2011 He he! Congratulations on your first egg! Mine arrived on Tuesday and I came home absolutely shocked yesterday to find an egg sitting on the roosting bars! We too have joked about who's getting it - me and my husband might share it for Saturday morning breakfast unless another appears!! I now have names (two from me and two from friends who were desperate to name them!): ginger "little ginge" - it's a secret but she's my fave (gets bullied by the two older girls), Dotty (other little buff one), Mavis is the boss lady and the last one is undecided but have had some suggestions, one of which I must pick apparently! I've spent every evening chicken watching too...they are so funny! At the moment they are mostly turning their noses up at all the treats I've been putting out for them - are they like children....have to try something 16 times before they like it??? I treated myself (them!) to some mealworms at the garden centre today so going to pop a few of them in and see if I can whet their appetites. This forum is fab, and the people are fab and so helpful, thank you everyone! Just as soon as I can work out how to put pics from my phone onto here I will show you them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Congratulations on your new girls! With regards to rain, I have a canvas tarpaulin that I pull over the part of the run closest to the house, I put it up in very hot sunny weather and in the rainy weather. To be honest my girls don't really mind the rain, they are happy to be out in it and don't really seek the shelter, I was worried about them going to bed still wet. BUT they do use it in the hot sun, whilst they enjoy sunbathing they do like to get out of it for a while, I would suggest that something opaque rather than something clear so you can use it for rain and sun. I am going to get some of the bungee cords so that I can tidy up mine and make it a more permanent feature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 At the moment they are mostly turning their noses up at all the treats I've been putting out for them - are they like children....have to try something 16 times before they like it??? Yep that's chooks, but they'll get braver as they realise that everything you supply is yummy yummy One thing I have noticed, however, is that my chooks like their dainties cut up. Sounds silly but this did not occur to me even though I know they have not teeth So grapes, blueberries and even lettuce go down much better if I cut them up small. In the case of greens like lettuce if you hang a clump up your chooks can peck and drag it back to tear off chunks (getting plenty of exercise and entertainment as they do so) but I find that if you just put it on the ground it gets trashed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splicola Posted May 24, 2011 Author Share Posted May 24, 2011 Yes you have just described exactly what happens! I knew they didn't have teeth and thought it would be more challenging for them to peck at stuff rather than swallow it down but now you mention it, only the small stuff has been cleared, the rest is coated in mud on the floor! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 They are funny birds, chooks. Bright at some things,like knowing the sound of meal worm box, but dopy at others, like not treading on one side of a leaf to keep it still while they tear off a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
