Clucky the Great Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 I am soooo excited! I am rehoming 6 ex-barn birds on Thursday! I have a with a 4m run at the moment but got so excited I got another extension in the boxing day sale! so 5m whenever that comes! I currently have it on a sand base and I have layer pellets for them to be weaned onto. I have grit and some mixed corn and aubiose and easi-chick bedding. I also have put a log at the bottom of the ladder and they have mealworm treats and a log full of chickeny stuff and some corn hangers. I am planning to get them Thursday morning and should I keep them in the cube itself for an hour or so or can I let them straight out into the run? Also I have a dog and I am not sure how she will react with them and if I take her out on a lead they would still be able to see her...is this alright? And free-ranging they won't some out much because I don't trust my neighbours dogs or foxes in my area, are they okay just in the run all week and let out for supervised free-range at the weekend? I will probably have more questions later, I'm so excited! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 We'd never know you're excited . You don't have to keep them in the cube, in the run is fine. If they don't seem to know where "bed" is at dusk, you can lure them in with a torch (apparently - I've not tried it!). A dog on a lead is fine - as long as she doesn't go crazy when she sees them! Get her used to them gradually and it should be ok (all depends on the breed/temperament obviously). Supervised free-ranging is fine. Your cube run sounds like a nice big playground for them, so they'll be fine! Good luck . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 How exciting, sounds like lucky ladies as you are so well prepared. Hopefully it will work out ok with your dog, mine are fine even with the chickens free ranging, just did a slow intro with the dogs on leads at first, the worse thing is if the chickens start flapping around it gets the dog excited which makes things worse. But if your dog is calm on the lead around them they will soon get used to him/her. Good luck and enjoy Thursday, look forward to seeing some photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Just 3 days to go then I am excited for you. What lucky girls they are to be rescued and be rehomed in such a lovely home. Your new run sounds so nice and how lucky you were to get an extra bit in the sale. I can't wait to see some pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Good for you for rehoming some commercial girls. I so love my ex cage fighter....it sounds like a lovely sanctuary and they wont believe there luck. Mine were a little scatty at first but better than I expected. you sound well prepared for them. we got someone to have our dogs for a few hours and when they came back the chickens were there and that was it. the boys had a look and bit of a sniff and thought nothing more of it. They potter around the garden together and even share bowls of tuna....the girls win as the boys are a little scared I think. I know this isn't the same for all dogs but if you use your noggins you wont go far wrong. I am excited for you and no doubt there will be many questions coming if your anything like most of us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 How exciting The torch trick does work I have used it for the ex batts and when the chicks went out in the eglu. I took the bars out of my eglu to start with I am not sure if this is necessary now that they are not caged birds. Enjoy your new girls, I am sure they will enjoy their new life Christie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clucky the Great Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 Thanks everyone I will try the torch trick. They should be fine with the bars, did work experience at a chicken farm (with no previous experience of them) and fell in love with them! That's where these are coming from. They have 100,000, 50,000 caged, 30,000 barn and 20,000 pullets. Getting some barn ones this time and the caged ones come out late next year so probably get some of them after I have got a bit of experience with these ones first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clucky the Great Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 On way to get them now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 How exciting. Did you sleep last night? I didn't before I was going to get my ladies....just think, those girls are probably in a real panic at this moment, if only they knew what fate has in store for them I think your new girls would be Smiling:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Brilliant. Don't forget the photos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 How exciting, enjoy your day. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clucky the Great Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 Thanks everybody and kind of! I kept thinking still have this to do, still have that to do! They actually where very well behaved and calm. Had a bit of flap at the start of the journey and then didn't have another cluck for the rest of the journey! And when they arrived they just went out and haven't stopped eating since we put them in! I chose ones with the bright red combs and then a couple with pink ones because they were just so friendly and easy to catch! They are in quite good condition but are all a bit flakey and a few have bald patches in places. They do seem to have got there voice back now though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 What a lovely day they chose to be rehomed on I bet they have enjoyed their first bit of freedom and some much longed for sunshine. Looking forward to the pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clucky the Great Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 A few questions how do you stop them laying on the roosting bars and sleeping in the nest boxes. I have a pot egg on the nest boxes and its a cube? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 One of my girls always sleeps in the nest box, I just remove the poo in the morning, it doesn't bother me but if you don't want her in there place a football in there before the go to box. They will eventually get that they lay in the nest box, mine occasionally get caught short but mostly lay in the nest box.!if you want to give then a nudge then maybe put in a ceramic egg or a golf ball and they might get the hint:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Ah, I think it just takes time. I have 4 ex bats and 2 nest boxes. One still sleeps in a nest box. She looks so comfy I won't move her. Fake eggs are a good idea. Mine all lay their eggs in the nest box now though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clucky the Great Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 I have a pot egg but I found 2 eggs this morning before I let them out so if I block the nest box would it not encourage them to lay on the bars? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Are they all sleeping in the nesting area? You could try moving them when they are asleep. It's still very early days. Do you leave the eglu door open? This might encourage them to move around as soon as it's light Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clucky the Great Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 There is a lot of poo in there and that might cause the ones who want to lay to lay on the nesting box to lay on the bars! The door is shut. I don't trust foxes or my dog! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 The poo won't deter them from laying and you can wipe them clean. If you have a run with your cube, that is fox proof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clucky the Great Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 Sorry I didnt mean the poo would deter them i meant that there is a lot of poo which suggests there are a lot of birds so there wouldn't be room and yes but it is on sand which is very easy to dig in and hasn't been pegged down yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 I often get my knickers in a twist. Sorry It's on sand from the outside ? That would be easy to dig under. I would keep the door shut too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clucky the Great Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 Yep one side is okay because the mesh reaches the plastic edging but planning to pave or gravel the other side as has about a foot to the wall! At the moment I have been out with them a lot so its fine but yeah need to sort it so doors shut for the moment! Will see what happens tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Just had a eureka moment. Take half the roosting bars out and fill that section with chippings. This will either make the ones that are in the nesting box move, or they can lay in the new area you could even take all the roosting bars out until you've Sussed out where they are sleeping. You could put some objects in for those who do want to roost. I bet they're not used to roosting bars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Had another idea, which is probably a better one. Block off the nest box with anything you can find, then, at about 8 or 9 take out the objects. Chickens don't move once they are asleep. My theory for their behavior (professor Sonya ) is that they are so used to being squashed together tightly they are heading for the smallest space, to huddle up Ps. Sorry if I'm getting on your nerves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
