Omlet cube and run

[scottishchicken]

I feel a bit daft asking this, I can tell it's a true newbie question, but what do I do about providing food and drink for the chooks inside their coop? I've got the usual big feeder and drinker for their run, but what about when they're 'indoors'?

[percy049]

any sort of small bowl will do

[gongladosh]

Hello,

 

You don't need to worry about food/water inside the eglu/cube - once they're in bed, they just want to sleep.

They get themselves in a routine of having some food/water before bedtime.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

They don't need food & water overnight (even in the winter when they're "in bed" a lot longer) . They will knock you over in the rush for food in the morning however .

[scottishchicken]

Ahhhh, that explains why I couldn't find anything on it

 

I read that when I get my chickens home for the first time, I should put them straight in the coop until the next morning. Seems to me they might be a bit thirsty after a 3 hours journey - will they be OK if I put them in the run at first and let them drink/eat before cooping them up?

[clucker1]

Our chickens were delivered mid morning, so the lovely man from Omlet told us to put them in their run and then put them in their overnight quarters at dusk. So that is what we did...we kept ours in for nearly a week before letting them free range.

[gongladosh]

if I were you, I wouldn't lock them in the coop when you get them home - they may not be too pleased with that!

 

I think the advice you're looking for is: confine them to the *run* for 5 or so days so they work out where 'home' is.

 

What I'd do is this - get them home, put them in the run and leave the door to the eglu/coop open (but the run door locked). Give them food, water and they should be fine. If they get scared (and they may well be nervous when you get them as hens don't like moving house very much), they can go in the eglu/coop whenever they want.

 

At nighttime, they should put themselves to bed - if not, put a torch in the eglu and they'll follow the light. After that, it's up to you as to whether you lock them in for the night or not. If so, you need to establish a routine in terms of getting them out at the same time every morning.

 

They'll chill out over a few days as they realise nothing bad is going to happen to them!

[scottishchicken]

Gotcha, thanks gongladosh, that makes a lot more sense. I've read so much about chickens I've clearly gone a bit chicken-mental!

[SteveC]

I was told by my supplier that it was a good idea to put the girls straight into the Eglu for a half hour or so and then let them find their own way out - that way they would know where 'home' was. Seemed to work really well too - they came out into the WIR quite tentatively at first, then found the food / water and later put themselves properly to bed again! Apparently they need to 'imprint' on a location which only takes a short time.

[percy049]

Sorry, but I thought you meant if someone was too scared to go out of the house!

[Mum]

Gotcha, thanks gongladosh, that makes a lot more sense. I've read so much about chickens I've clearly gone a bit chicken-mental!

I think we're all a touch "chicken-mental" here

 

Silly thing to point out, but, when I introduced my girlies, no problems whatsoever on their first day/night. However, in the morning, they were very slow to come out of bed into the big world of the run. Initially, I worried that they were either ill or brain dead. Neither, they just take their time that first morning. Just thought I'd mention that aspect.

 

Good luck on Sunday! Your converted greenhouse looks like a great space as a WIR (where's the "envy" smilie?)

[scottishchicken]

Thanks folks, I'll let you know how the move goes!