Eglu Cube Coop and Accessories

[Minty_76]

Hello everyone

 

After having my 3 bantams for 4 months now I still haven't had the nerve to let them out free-range. They are in a classic with a 3 metre run and when the weather gets better they will have an extra run to potter about in. Im just nervous about the fact we have close neighbours, there are lots of things in the garden they could jump on to fly over to next door and also a medium sized tree near the fence. Does anyone else have these problems in their small garden and am I being a bit cruel by keeping them in the run?

[migsy]

I've found that even if a chicken escapes it makes its way home. Why don't you supervise them first and see what happens?

[mollyripkim]

Hi Minty

I have seven bantams with trees, bushes, etc and a raised border next to the fence. They did used to get into that border but it was easily solved with some cheap wire trellis along the edges, now they never get into it and FR all day as I work from home. In fact today I was digging that a border with a trowel and they were obviously tempted but did't get up there.

If I were you I would let them FR when you are around to see where any potential problems are, if you do it late afternoon they will usually congregate back in the run ready for bed time.

[Leicester_H]

I kept mine in the run for 10 days.During this time every afternoon, I went to the back door, blew a whistle, and then opened the run door a little (WITHOUT letting them out of the run) in order to hold a bright red bowl containing a treat (usually sweetcorn) . They ate from the bowl immediately

 

Now when they are free-ranging, I simply have to blow the whistle, they run to me, I walk them down to the run and put the treat bowl inside and close the run door. see

Whenever they are out, I always have the treat bowl and whistle handy in case I need to get them back inside the run quickly, eg. if I saw a fox, unknown cat etc.

 

We call it the Marching Band - no idea what neighbours think !!

[Forge Cottage]

That's brilliant, but the whistle might not go down well around here!

 

I once glanced into my neighbours front garden and saw my chickens on his front lawn They had got out through the open side gate and stepped through the bushes. I just stood there with a handful of corn and they all came straight back, like lambs.

 

Once they get used to their domain, they tend to stay within it, even though they could get out without much effort. Our only worry is that the neighbours have dogs, which would be a bit of a shock all round!

 

Yes, I would give it a try under supervision and don't panic if they look interested in exploring further - just remind them where the food comes from! Best of luck.

[Minty_76]

Thanks for your replies. Yes I should stop being a total wuss and just go for it. If I do it before it gets dark hopefully they will come back and they love their corn!

[patsylabrador]

I might be on my own but my chickens never free range. We live near the tube and I've got a sneaky feeling that we're on some fox path, they always follow the same line. The chickens live in a WIR with earth floor so they dig and dust bath all day. I've stood some branches up so they have the effect of bushes to walk around and a bit I sometimes fill with water, they seem to like mud. They have a wooden coop they fly onto for a safe snooze and they can also stroll behind it for a ciggy and a natter. They seem very content and I don't feel guilty at all. The only very rare occasion they come out is when I put compost from the bins onto the veggie patch and they have a very closely supervised insect feast.

[Mum]

My method when I have new girls is to keep them in their run for the first couple of weeks that way they get used to me, their home, their feeding stations.

 

Then, I let them out for 20 minutes before their bedtime, that way they take themselves "home" to bed and I don't have to run around the garden trying to sheperd them in (which is how I first learned the hard way )

 

I have a WIR for my resident flock and they are now fully trained. I can open the door any time of day and out they all run making a bee line for the back end of my garden (which has trees and shrubs and the compost heap) and they love it up there. When playtime is over, I simply grab the mealworm bucket and they all run back into the WIR because *that* is where I hand out the worms.

 

I am always with them when they FR because I do have foxes visit my pond and last year one stole my girls in the night.

 

All my girls stay within the garden boundary. Only once did one of my girls fly up onto the back porch roof and she was soon lured back with the mealworm bucket sound.

[Minty_76]

I would love to have a WIR and I have my eye on an Omlet one as I don't want a permanent fixture. The price is quite a lot so may have to save for a one while.

 

I will build up my courage!

[Duncan08]

Love those trained chickens!

 

My girls only get to free range when I am out in the garden, so at the moment not very often and only at weekends.

They have got a netted off area that they can "play out" in when there is someone at home, which is most days.

 

They do love to get out, but we have a lot of plants in the garden that I would like to keep, so they only play out out when supervised.

 

I just got my WIR for Christmas, my Dad built it for me - it really is superb and makes such a difference, I can go out and have a chat with them in all weathers, would definitely recommend. But get one with a roof.