Unsecure chicken perches

[robs5230]

i have recently got a couple of light sussex bantams which i am keeping in an ark ( eglu shortly ) and they don't seem keen on venturing out of the house into the run. i appreciate it's cold and at times wet , but have i made the house too comfortable ??? i have a lined nestbox in there , a perch and lots of shredded paper. i clean them out every day and they seem in good health and very bright. they have only been with me a couple of days so is it just a matter of them settling down or should i thin the bedding out a little ? when they came on sunday they fed well and their droppings were normal when i cleaned them out. any ideas ?? thanks

[jackian]

Welcome I am sure they are just getting used to their surroundings and what you have done seems just fine.I woulds not thin the nest box out at all.Cosier the better.

Perhaps you could gently pick them up and place them in the run making sure there is of course something to tempt them like food and water...and chickens favourite dried meal worms if you have them .

They will soon settle.....Don't forget that they have little duvets to keep them selves warm and usually prefer the cold to the hot.

Jackie

[robs5230]

came back at lunchtime today and both ladies out , eating and scratching around. all seems good

[Chortle Chook]

That's good news Robs I certainly think that in this weather chooks need to be made as comfortable as possible. If there is snow, however, they sometimes need a bit of gentle persuasion (like a gentle shove) to get them out

[robs5230]

yeah they stayed out all day yesterday then as the sun was setting they took themselves to bed with a cluck. they may have had a problem with the layers pellets i was feeding too. added a little hot water to some and mashed them a bit. soon as it was in front of them they tucked in immediately.

[sjp]

they do take a while to get used to their new home and a new food source plus it might be that they were only used to eating mash or feeders are a different colour

[jackian]

So glad everything is going according to plan..