Mr Grinch Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 Hi, My three new chickens are about 15 weeks old, they have been in there run and coup for 2 weeks now and i would like to let them roam the garden. Is it just a matter of opening them up and they will go back in by themselves ? Bit worried they wont get back in, they are not that steady to pick up. G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 They should go back in at dusk. If not they will perch somewhere and you can place them back in the run. Mine chose me to perch on when I first let them out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 Even if they don't go back in by themselves at dusk (which they should do), you'll probably be able to herd them towards the run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shilojo Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 At first we used to have to herd ours back in (generally a two person job). Now though they just go in of their own accord when we tell them to. Never ceases to amaze us when they do that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grinch Posted October 8, 2015 Author Share Posted October 8, 2015 Well i let them out and they went straight for the Box hedge to ravage it. To get them in i shook their fav treat (dried mealworm) in a tub and they came straight back. G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 Well done I call mealworms The Chickens Haribo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Grinch Posted October 8, 2015 Author Share Posted October 8, 2015 Anybody got any experience of the Omlet chicken fencing you can put up ? To give them a bit more roaming space without destroying the garden, i want to fence in their area. Any good ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 If you let them out an hour before dusk they should know to put themselves to bed. The Omlet netting is good but wildlife and other animals can bite through it so we use a low fence designed as a rabbit/puppy playpen: Generally they have free roam but its good to be able to fence off the veg patch or whatever, it's only low but they rarely jump over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shilojo Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 Wow Lewis, look at all that grass in your run. How do you do it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooksRCute Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 Oo Lewis, what are you using as kickboard in your WIR, I could do with something that high for mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 That's the top third just for the chickens, the rest is for my parents to do whatever gardening they do They free range nearer the house in the summer and the rabbit is usually out but everyday the grass has been fine for 10 years. They do stay in when its raining so it doesn't get too muddy. The kickboard in the walk in run is Polycarbonate sheets, just cut it with a stanley knife Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooksRCute Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 The kickboard in the walk in run is Polycarbonate sheets, just cut it with a stanley knife Thank you Lewis, where did you source it from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 I think mine came from Wickes or B&Q, something similar to this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...