hasnett Posted June 30, 2007 Share Posted June 30, 2007 We finally got our bantams today. 3 pekins a buff, a black and a brown one. They are adorable and seemed happy in their new run, but i have just forced them to bed by picking them up and locking the egloo door and now they are shouting and i'm worried they will be distressed! There were about 20 of them in the cage in the shed when we collected them - i've put a hot water bottle in the egloo and lots of hemcore - do you think they will be warm enough? it was raining so hard this evening and chocolate ( my niece named her!) kept putting her head under her wing and falling asleep in the run. what time do you think i should let them out tomorrow? I didn't realise they would be so chatty! Next doors cat came for a look and barbarella certainly found her voice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah 2 Posted June 30, 2007 Share Posted June 30, 2007 Our girls didn't out themselves to bed until about 11pm on 1st night. We put a torch in their house because apparently they're drawn to light. When I go to shut mine up for the night they always start being vocal. I'm not sure about the hot water bottle as they tend to snuggle together to keep themselves warm. Try not to worry. I read on the Hen keeping association that you shouldn't really let them out til 7am. We let ours out at 8am. I don't think it really matters. There are people on here that let theirs out at 6am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasnett Posted June 30, 2007 Author Share Posted June 30, 2007 thank you - i know i'm being a worry wort but i want to make them as comfortable as possible. sxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted June 30, 2007 Share Posted June 30, 2007 Don't worry they should be fine Within a few days the'll be taking themselves off to bed......our banties did We sometimes use a 'Snugglesafe' heat pad as it's peck proof.....but only when it's very cold in winter Enjoy your banties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs T Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 Don't worry we put our chicks in the Eglu, I was very worried for the first night as they would not go to bed. So I put them in through the egg door they all settled in the end. And now aged 16 weeks the girls are very happy to go to bed all by themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pekinpower Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 Well done choosing pekins, they are fantastic little birds ! At the start ours were scared and would not go into the Eglu, they soon got used to it and now are fine. We have found pekins to be very vocal, they constantly "chatter" to eachother and stick to eachother like glue snuggling up to eachother at night. They soon become really tame ours run upto the kitchen window when we call them, a running pekin is a sight to behold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pearsons Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 They soon become really tame ours run upto the kitchen window when we call them, a running pekin is a sight to behold A running Dumpy is very funny as well - you wonder if the legs will keep up with the body. Helen in Hume Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasnett Posted July 2, 2007 Author Share Posted July 2, 2007 Thank you all so much! This forum is such a wealth of knowledge! My babies banties are all sleeping in the nest at the moment and seem to struggle with the roosting bars? Will they eventually know to sleep on the roosting bars or should i put a football in the nest (read somewhere on the forum)...do bantams sleep int he nest unlike other chook in which case should i remove the roosting bars altogether? I'm verry impressed they have learnt to take themselves off to bed on their own after only one night. The smallest of the 3 continually goes back to the nest though for naps during the day - this owrried me at first but once she is awake she seems fine. the other 2 won't do anything without weach other it's so funny to watch them try to catcha fly. They spend alot of time preening themselves, is this normal? i have treated the egloo with louce powder as recommended by the breeder and i am going to order some red mite dust today. They are on grass at the moment but i have hemcore for when the ground becomes too muddy for them. i can't wait for them to become a little tamer (i know i've got no patience it's only been 2 days!) i am trying to give them little treats in the afternoon at the moment they are not interested in anything exceot worms and thier growers pellets.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasnett Posted July 2, 2007 Author Share Posted July 2, 2007 oh and our neighbours have cats - only one has shown any interest at the moment nad babs the largest black one started shouting - i won't let them out in the garden unless i am there but do you think they would be bale to defend themselves against a cat? i know larger birds can. sx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
