Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Eggshell]

Hi

I've just got my first three chickens today and they're sitting very nervously in a huddle under the eglu (I've got a Go Up). I'm starting to wonder how to get them into the eglu this evening if they don't discover it themselves. I can't get into the run, and I doubt they'll come out to let me pick them up - when I got them here this morning the first thing the columbine did was to fly over the chicken netting round their patch, despite having her wing clipped this morning, and the sussex got in a real state trying to get out through the netting. I don't really want to leave them out in the run overnight, because there will be foxes around and I don't want the chickens more scared! Any suggestions, please? I'm feeling a bit anxious about them.

[Chickabee]

When it's getting dark open the nest box and shine a bright torch in. They should follow the light

[Olly]

Congratulations on taking the plunge and getting chickens. Don't worry, the chickens are probably less nervous than you are, but they take a little while to get acclimatised and if they are youngsters and not laying yet then they can be a bit flighty, they will soon settle down when the hormones take over.

 

Chickabee's advice above is spot on, and I would recommend you keep them in the Go run for the first couple of days so they get used to where they are, yes I know how much you want them to come out and play especially as it's a Bank Holiday weekend, but I'd keep them in for 24 hours at least. They will get bolder and stop huddling under the Eglu before you know it.

[Purplemaniacs]

Congratulations on your new girls.

 

I agree with Chickabee the torch has always worked for me. They may find the ladder quite tricky at first.

 

Chrissie

[Eggshell]

Thanks, everyone. I think they're starting to get the idea. At first they were all over the place with the ladder, so I tried threading some bamboo poles across the run in line with the ladder when I wanted them to go to bed, and they find those a much easier route up. But they're managing the ladder a bit better every day.