Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[AndreaT]

Help! I've had my girls for over a week now but still haven't let them out to free range. Have they been with me long enough now? If I'm honest I'm scared to let them out Will they come back? Will they fly out of the garden? What if the cats try and have a go?

 

They are all still really timid of me and won't let me touch them let alone pick them up if I have to do a rescue mission! Most of them will take meal worms from me now but one girl won't even do that Only one is in lay at the moment, should I wait until they all are or does it not make any difference?

 

To add to the worry, one of my girls turned out to be a boy. He has now been re-homed but I'm not getting the replacement (def a girl as she is already laying ) until next week so if I let them out now I'll only have to keep them in again once she arrives.

 

Should I wait or should I go for it

 

Any advice will be most welcome!

[zakjon-98]

I would let them out.

As long as your garden is secure, you don't have low fencing and they have clipped wings they shouldn't fly away. Hens will always go back to roost and to get my hens back into their run I tempt them with treats. I don't have experience with cats but a lot of people say on this forum that you should worry more about bantams. Shame about your hen being a cockerel Although I wouldn't introduce just one hen as she will be very badly bullied, this is also a very good excuse for getting more!

[AndreaT]

Only the leghorn has a clipped wing, the breeder doesn't like clipping wings but I was worried about her as I know they can be flighty. My friends flies on to the roof of his house!

 

I did think about getting an extra girl but I'm not sure I have the space, my runs 12' x 6' and they will have to spend some time in there.

 

I was hoping as I'd only had them for 2 weeks and they are all from the same breeding pen that I would be ok just adding one, it's a little soon to get morehens! When I do add to the flock I'm still hankering after an orpington and this breeder doesn't have any so I think I'll have to wait.

[Chicken Kitty]

I felt exactly the same as you before letting them out to free range for the first time.....but it was fine

I had visions of the girls flying away never to be seen again! But it didn't happen

My girls had been with me a week and would take mealworms from my hand but I couldn't catch them to pick them up (even now they don't like being picked up and will scoot away if I try to catch them!)

None of mine were in lay at the time. I have never clipped their wings and our lowest fence is 3ft.

Like zacjon-98 said, have some treats ready and throw some mealworms in the run when you want them to go back and hopefully that will encourage them back in!

Be brave and go for it! There is nothing as lovely as seeing your girls free range around the garden

Good luck