Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[jennym]

Well, it's my first day at the office all day after getting the chooks on Saturday and I'm thinking about them, hoping they're okay. Silly me!

 

I'm out tonight too so asked my OH to send me a text reporting on them when he gets home. He hasn't had a chance to bond with them yet so hopefully he'll spend some time with them tonight. I want them to be comfortable with us and well used to treats from us before we let them out to FR the first time, or we might never get them back!

 

Arg, silly worrier, me.

[johnandkymberley]

dont be silly! i know its hard though - i was the same! as long as your girls know you are there mummy, they wont want to go anywhere else, my OH too didnt really have much time to bond with them - they are mummies girls through and through, they dont care much to daddy! how silly are we!! but they do LIKE him but they are different with him, im sure they wil be fine they are probably enjoying the view of your garden and may be doing some sunbathing if the suns got his hat on, have you had any eggs yet? xx

[cheekymonkey200]

hehe! I feel your pain...I spent the first week worrying 24 hours a day about my girls! Even now after a few weeks I get a cold sweat and panic that I've left the door open or something silly and have to get the OH to rush home and check, he refuses to do it now because I've cried wolf so many times! You will relax and it will all become second nature.

 

As for getting them to come back to you, mine still take a lot of persuasion to go back in the run, they know that after a while i'll just pick them up and carry them so they hang about to forage the last of the food! I think I need to practise my chook call...

[jennym]

No eggs yet J&K - going by the colour of their combs I'm thinking Pippa might lay first, though I'm pretty sure Lucy has been practising, and tearing the nest apart in the process!

 

Cheekymonkey - mine have not been handled very much yet so it's the "just pick them up" bit that I'm not sure about! They sure do love sweetcorn though so I'm sure if they see us chuck some of that in the run they'll charge in full-speed

[johnandkymberley]

the "get back in" call takes a while to practise, and the girls will try it on and pretend they dont hear it, petal tries to disguse herself against the shed so she doesnt have to go in, she will stand there so still! in her head shes probably thinking "if i dont move she wont see me" so i tell her i can see her and she will be a kiev if she doesnt move!!! you will get there, i have never had anything to do with chickens etc and i have learnt from keeping them too, i first started by holding them, but even now laelia hates to be held, she likes strokes but hates being picked up, whereas willow loves to be picked up and to come and jump on my knee and doze! Willow and Lily belonged to my friend though before i had them, we already had our other 5 and when my friend saw how friendly they were etc she decided she didnt want her as they were "nasty" willow and lily are nothing of the sort, all hens (and animals) need is a bit of love and attention and it sounds as if you hens are getting it! - you are thinking about them whilst your at work! Do you try and feed them from your hand? thats always a good taming thing? Good luck with the eggs pippa and lucy, my girls also rip the paper up and shove it underthemselves? god knows why!!!!! i always wonder does it hurt to lay an egg?

[jennym]

i always wonder does it hurt to lay an egg?

That's hilarious, I've wondered that myself. Imagine giving birth every day?!

 

They are happy (to varying degrees) eating out of my hand - one of them pretty much charges over and tries to eat half of my hand with the treats. The other two are a bit more timid but given half a chance (i.e. if there's any food, or hand, left to feed them!) they'll do it.

 

Here they are - this was on day one so I'm hopeful they are nice, friendly chickens

 

[johnandkymberley]

Aww, yeah they look like it, they seem quite comfortable and the taking over is normal, if i feed the girls outta my hand i only get 3-4 out of 7 they are so pushy!

Another thing i have noticed whilst my girls were sunbathing is how fidgety they are, they are up down up down like yo yo's i couldnt be a hen with someone put there wing in my face etc!!!

im just popping out now to close the cube door, havent done it in a while but on here today i have read lots of horror stories about the door being open and a mr fox being about, my girld are going to make alot of noise tommorow, im sure of it but ill feel so much better if they are locked in!

p.s your 3 girls are beautiful - they are so small bless them! mine seem huge compared to them! xx

[sadietoo]

As for getting them to come back to you, mine still take a lot of persuasion to go back in the run, they know that after a while i'll just pick them up and carry them so they hang about to forage the last of the food! I think I need to practise my chook call...

 

In my experience what you need is a tin of mealworms...then even if you have run out of mealworms a single shake of the box (even with just grit in it) will summon your girls and have them running to you in no time! Once you have their attention if you have no mealworms then a handful of pellets thrown into the run will have them charging in after them..(there isn't really a lot of space for a brain in that small head, bless them)

[jennym]

Tin of mealworms sounds great - perfect, unique noise

[poppy ben grace]

Your hens look lovely girls! I agree with the meal worm trick, or you could put some mixed corn in a container,( a bit cheaper than mealworms!) once they get used to "the rattle" i am sure you will have no probs getting them in. Mind you, mine always seem to sense when i am in a hurry and give me the run around! Fingers crossed for some eggs soon!