Chicken boarders

[hinterglem]

Thanks for all the lovely comments. We've named them Fifi (brown), Lily (blue), and Nugget (black). They are very nervous at the moment and won't come near us - even food bribes are not working so far. Last night they didn't seem interested in going indoors, so I carried them in when it got dark - they were not impressed. Should I just let them sleep outdoors if they want to? I'm an anxious chicken daddy!

[lindafw]

I have read on this forum that if you put a torch in the coop the chooks will head to it...might be worth a try

[pips_pekins]

Thanks for all the lovely comments. We've named them Fifi (brown), Lily (blue), and Nugget (black). They are very nervous at the moment and won't come near us - even food bribes are not working so far. Last night they didn't seem interested in going indoors, so I carried them in when it got dark - they were not impressed. Should I just let them sleep outdoors if they want to? I'm an anxious chicken daddy!

 

They are absolutely adorable. Congratulations on your new chickens and their names really suit them.

 

I haven't clipped the wings on any of my bantams and they are all far to busy digging up the garden to attempt flying

 

They will be nervous to start with but they are young and should easily get used to you. I would say take it slowly, try just sitting with them until they get more used to you and offering them a few treats. From your photos it looks as through someone is already doing this I am sure someone with more experience than me will be along soon to give you more help.

 

Also, they will soon learn where to sleep. I always make sure mine are shut up over night more for security than anything. After a couple of days, they will get the hang of it. We've all been through the same anxieties. I still am!

 

Have fun getting to know your new girls.

[hinterglem]

Well, the torch idea didn't work (thanks for the suggestion though). I had to crawl around on the wet ground trying to catch them last night. Whenever I opened the door to put one bird in, another one would bolt out again. I'm really the bad guy now!

[Plum]

They were having fun with you. They'll be fine tonight

[Patricia W]

They are lovely! How about adding some perches in the run too? And upturned plant pots etc for them to hop up on? I find my bantams are actually quite active and love to hop up on things. It extends the space you have upwards too and helps against boredom

[Snowy]

Ooh, thats where my pekins came from! We could have sisters

 

I had the same problems putting mine to bed - I sent a small child in to catch them, saves getting your knees dirty

[hinterglem]

There are some perches in there, but they haven't used them yet. They haven't been 'upstairs' yet either. I managed to get them to eat out of my hand today which also made it much easier to get them inside this evening - I just bribed them up the ramp, then gave them a little nudge into the house.

[Chortle Chook]

They do look funny, don't they, when they are dithering about going to bed and have their bum stuck out of the pop hole. I can't resist giving a little shove.

 

Have you tried meal worms? Chooks will do anything for meal worms and if you put them (the worms, not the chooks) in a coloured cup (same colour each time) and rattle the worms or call the chook's names each time you want them to come to you, they'll soon be your best friends.

[hinterglem]

Have you tried meal worms? Chooks will do anything for meal worms and if you put them (the worms, not the chooks) in a coloured cup (same colour each time) and rattle the worms or call the chook's names each time you want them to come to you, they'll soon be your best friends.

Will have to try that - they still won't let me touch them. It was raining this evening, and they were all huddled together in the coop as far away from the door as possible! Easiest bedtime yet.

[WitchHazel]

Lovely girls, congratulations.