redsunset Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 Hello, Am going to collect my 1st ever chickens in a short while and whilst the advice is to put them in their house for a few hours I am a bit worried as the temps today up here in the far North west of Scotland are forecast to be hot. I don't want to cook them! Would it be ok to leave them in their fenced off area and leave the coop door open, or should I put them in even for an hour? Getting 6, 2 Isa Browns, 2 silver (bluebelles?) and 2 white sussex. Many thanks for any advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaT Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 Hello and welcome to the forum! Congratulations on getting your first chickens, exciting isn't it? I didn't put mine in the coop when I got them but I do have a walk in run so they couldn't go anywhere. I'd be worried that they would fly out their area, how high is the surround and how big is the area? It is going to be a scorcher today though, do you have lots of vents on your coop that you could open to let air through, that would help a little. Sorry I've not been much help hopefully someone with the same set up will be able to give you some advice. Looking forward to seeing some pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 Thank you for your reply, yes am very excited!! I think as the temps are going to be well over 25 today I will take a chance and put them in the run. Fence only a metre high but they will be free-ranging once they are used to their house. Am on an Island so no foxes. Wish me luck as now away to get them. Will post pics when I figure it all out... Neighbours on one side have 3 hens, so lots of advice there. Might be some fun if they decide to explore to far and fetching them all back!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 I always used to put any newbies into the coop first so that they had somewere that they felt safe in used to leave the door closed for an hour then open it up and let them come out into the run at their own pace but now I hatch all my own replacements I try to do house move at night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 Well chooks are all here and very well settled. They were very thirsty so left two large lots of water out, pellets and sprinkled a small handful of corn into the grass. Lovely watching them all explore grass for the 1st time and then stretch out to sunbathe. My wee tabby jumped into the run before I could stop her, pinched some water and then back out! not bothered by hens as used to next doors. Hens didn't seem to fussed either so all good. Can see me getting very sunburnt today watching them.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 Congratulations , enjoy . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 Lovely girls! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaT Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 Lovely girls, lovely coop, lovely setting and lovely tabbie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clucking_Mad Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 Congratulations on your new girlies they look lovely and also a huge welome to the forum. Your set up looks amazing and the girls look like they are settling in well, also lovely tabby cat I have two cats as well who also are not bothered about the girls and the girls don't even notice they are there Laura x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 Welcome and congratulations on your new girls . Your setup looks fabulous and you're so lucky not having foxes (I had a narrow escape with one a week ago ). Nice to have another Scottish Omleteer on the forum . I'm dying to know which island you live on (but appreciate you may not want to broadcast it on a public forum!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 Thank you all for the warm welcome. No doubt lots of questions in the coming weeks! Have been in and out like a yo-yo since they arrived watching them but heat drives me back in after a whiley! We're not used to it up here in the Isle of Lewis! (Outer Hebrides) Omlet delivered 2 big bags of aubiose today so will try that when I clear out the straw. I ended up with 4 Isa Browns, 1 sussex and 1 bluebelle. As they were all together no squabbles yet so top chook has still to go to debate amongst themselves. My two little dogs (bichon and lhasa) have seen them, and not fussed so far. Am away now to do more chook watching with an ice-lolly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 We had a fantastic cycling holiday with our boys in Lewis and Harris a few years ago . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 I wish I was one of your chickens I love the house they have to live in and their little garden. Hope you didn't get sunburnt. I guess you don't have any foxes on your island ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 How lovely, fab set up I am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted May 27, 2012 Author Share Posted May 27, 2012 Hello, Another day of chook watching. How they cope with this heat wearing duvets is beyond me as they are very busy today scratching about and the look of indignation when a fly eludes them is priceless! They loved the nice cold water this morning and 'found' a few grape halves?! They all put themselves to bed late last night and I left the pop hole open to keep them cooler. No foxes here but despite a mink eradication program on the Island there could still be the risk of a mink or polecat but haven't heard of any for some time so fingers crossed. ANH - Glad you enjoyed your cycling holiday up here, in this weather there is nowhere else I'd rather be. No sunburn thankfully, from all the chook watching yesterday (long sleeves!) One escapee yesterday and she gave herself a fright as could not figure how to get back in so lifted her over. If someone had told me 20 years ago I'd be happy to sit on the grass watching chickens, I would have had them committed but there you go..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 Your chickens look lovely and the coop/run/setting is fab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superkitty Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 I gave mine a bath today and let them dry off naturally...definitely helped with the heat, they didn't pant or gape all day (yesterday they were panting in the shade, even with ice cubes in the water etc). I don't think that's a practical everyday solution to the heat though... Your setup looks lovely and so do your girls! Ditto re the chicken-watching. If anyone had told me I would lose hours and hours just watching chickens be chickens, I'd have laughed in their faces Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanT Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 Lovely setup! Enjoy your new hens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
