Take part in study on PFAS 'forever chemicals' in eggs

[woodi]

Hi - we've just got our first hens - a lavender Araucana, black Araucana, an Ancona, and a very bossy Welsummer. They've been with us for a couple of days, and I'm a bit concerned that they seem pretty reluctant to venture outside their hen house into the run.

We've got them in a nice quiet sheltered spot in the field where our allotment is, and we've bothered them as little as possible, to let them settle. The Welsummer is bigger than the others who are giving her a bit of a wide berth. Often she will be outside on her own. They haven't laid since arriving, but do seem healthy, and came from a good breeder here, although they won't have had much in the way of human contact. They are all just under a year old.

Am I worrying about them unduly? Is it just a case of giving them time to get used to their new surroundings?

thanks

Woodi

[laurmurf]

they won't lay well until they're settled and they will be a bit unsettled by a move and new companions.

I would bribe them with corn and mealworms to get them used to you.

 

congratulations on your new girls!

[woodi]

Thanks They are definitely keen on the corn, and are already out and about more this morning than they have been. I've also added another perch in their house, as Ms Welsummer seemed to be hogging the one they had. Now they can sit and look at her on her throne across the hen house...