mrsatroy Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 I am so excited - I am a total newbie to all this but after much reading etc. I finally decided to take the plunge and got a amonth ago and now finally I am picling up my 4 new resitdent tomorrow! I can't wait! I would really appreciate any tips etc. to help the new girls settle in to their new abode and not be completly overwhelmed by my enthusiasm - and the chidlrens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 How exciting They should settle in fine by themselves but may need to be helped into the cube house the first night as some can't work out the cube ladder at first. Another thing is not to give them too many treats as this will give them diarrhea. I did this the first time but you will work out how much to give once you have had them for while. What breeds are you getting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsatroy Posted August 24, 2012 Author Share Posted August 24, 2012 Thanks for the reply - we are getting 4 hybrids - a bluebell for me to be named Hannah, a white one for my 5 year old daughter to be named Imelda Staunton (don't ask!), a black one for my 3 1/2 year old son to be named Rosie and despite his protests DH is getting a red one to be named Henny Penny. What is the receommneded time you leave them before allowing them out to FR? And is it best to do it in the evening so it's a bit easier to get them to bed? Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 You need to leave the chicken in for a few days so the know where 'home' is when left out. I've tended to just leave them for around a week before free-ranging. All of mine have needed showing where bed is at first but they quickly get the hang of this. Layers pellets, water, mixed grit and I'm sure your chickens will settle just fine. They also love wood chip on the floor run to scratch about in.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 I agree with making sure they know where their home is. Free ranging in the evening is probably not the best when they have first arrived as they might decide to roost up a tree or on a fence. Foxes are also more active at this time. It's pretty easy to get them in the run, I just throw a handful of corn in and they go back in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 Yay, it's so eggciting getting chickens isn't it. I hope they settle in well and you are rewarded soon with lots of eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 How fabulous. Have a lovely time getting them. You'll need a seat to watch them from (you'll waste hours). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenthelibrarian Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 How exciting! We got our girlies back in April and I'm still besotted. During their first week we kept them in. We visited often, to watch them and chat, and we rattled some corn in a plastic cup and 'called' them. [i call 'chook, chook, chook!' and I don't care who hears me ] Once let out, they'd willing come when called - or they heard the ratttle of corn in the cup. A friend visited this week and was soooo impressed that they'd come when called. I think she thinks it's love, not greed My worries about them going to bed turned out to be totally unfounded, it got dark - they went to bed Let us know how you get on, and post pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 Lucky you! Do let us know how it all goes. I'd particularly like to hear about the bluebell as I've always rather hankered after one of these but OH won't let me have any 'biggies'. Everyone says they are such gentle souls even though they are big (which to me means they'd be all the more cuddly). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 Welcome to the wonderful world of chickens..After 16 months i would not change anything . They have changed our lives for the better Advice 1 . ........ Get to know them and talk to them, seems daft but my neighbours think I make more noise chatting to them than the chickens make ...One of mine Poppy will chat to me for ever ,I always reckon she knows all the village gossip Advice 2... Don't panic. there is always someone on here ready to give advice when needed. Adbice 3...Take plenty of photos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsatroy Posted August 24, 2012 Author Share Posted August 24, 2012 Don't know how I'll sleep tonight with excitement! I really appreciate all the tips and advice Will try and post pics as soon as I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayleybug Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 good luck! looking forward to seeing pics of your new girls! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 How exciting! Can't wait to see pics. And when you've posted them teach me! Enjoy tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 Are they there yet?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HennyPenny59 Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 And when you've posted them teach me! And me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wannabe smallholder Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 You must have them by now! How's things? I was so excited, then a nervous wreck the first day and night!! I am 2 and half weeks in and still panic but I think that's natural! I have learnt so much about them, their likes, their dislikes amd which ones are going to be trouble! But I love 'em! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy! Xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsatroy Posted August 29, 2012 Author Share Posted August 29, 2012 Very exciting weekend. I brought the girls home Saturday afternoon and the whole family spent the entire rest of the day standing around the cube + run watching them! The kids are crazy aobut them and they even gave us an egg after a few hours! I was worried how I was going to get them to go into the cube at night but true to form at sunset they trooped in and snuggled down for the night! The next big step will be letting them out to FR. I ahve been doing my "Chook, chook" routine everytime we go with treats - slugs collected by the children are a particualr favourite! But I am still really nervous about the prospect of letting them out! The weather has been a disaster for my run. We have sloped garden and I didn't intend to move my cube so I had bark rolled off and area and wood chipped it but the entire area around the run and in the run is flooded thanks to the disasterous weather lately. I had some builders sand so added that just to try and remove puddle etc. I will get more wood chip at the weekend and hopefully it will begin to dry up. I am jsut worried that maybe being on such wet ground/puddles is bad for the girls feeet?? They do have a branch to perch on so I have seen them sitting up on that. So far loving having the girls adn the 3 eggs we got yesterday were a real thrill! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 The clear cover for our cube run that does one side and top has been a godsend for our run, would otherwise be building an ark for the chooks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 Glad you are enjoying them My run is pretty muddy at the moment too as it is only half covered and I wouldn't worry about it unless the chickens had feathered feet. They don't seemed to mind it too much but I find the problem seems to be that they walk mud into the eglu making the perches dirty. Some people on here have used shower curtains to cover their run and I plan to do this before winter as they are cheaper than the omlet shades. Good luck doing with your first free range Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wannabe smallholder Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 So glad your first days have gone well. With the problems you are having with the run trial and error and I'm sure you'll find a way around it. We have a walk in run and have placed a tarpaulin at one end to stop rain blowing in, has helped loads. As for free range...! I was nervous and in the end ordered omlet netting, so glad i did. Two of my girls would walk over hot coals for the reward of corn but the other two...! Also second day out Doris discovered she could flap enough to get up into one of our trees and began to eye up next door's fence! If yours come running for a tasty treat and your garden is pretty secure I'm sure they will be fine. And then you will see them run, and jump and flap for no reason and dash about like mad things!!! Ooh and seeing their knickers blowing in the wind!! Keep posting and let us know things are going xxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 mrsatroy is your run on concrete or on earth? If it is on earth you can increase drainage by getting a garden fork and poking the spokes in here there and everywhere. You'll need to do this every so often - say when you clean them out, but it should help. You don't need to s"Ooops, word censored!"e off the woodchip first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsatroy Posted August 29, 2012 Author Share Posted August 29, 2012 Thanks for the tips! Run is just on soil and unfortunately seems to be just located at the point where all water from the garden higher up drains! So even if I cover the run the water that is just draining down into it is torrential recently. It's the first time we ever had this occur, just shows how bad the summers been I will have a go at forking it over and hope some fine weather is on the way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 photos please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsatroy Posted August 30, 2012 Author Share Posted August 30, 2012 Still trying to figure out the photo bit! Unfortunately the Photobox site is blocked at work so I need to do it at home. But every evening when I get home I rush out to watch the girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 mrsatroy - looking forward to seeing your girls. Do these notes help at all? 1. load up your picture to photobucket, 2. then double click on it so you get just that one picture, 3. hover your mouse near the top of your picture and a button saying 'resize' comes up. 4. Select 320 x 240 and 5. click the confirmation button when the 'are you sure' message appears. 6. Then click on the IMG code box on the right which will copy the code that you can then paste (ctrl V) into your Omlet post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
