Chicken bald back

[Bluebubbles]

Hi,

 

I am very new to chicken keeping (we got our first hens last weekend!)..

 

We have three Pullets who really do not like to leave the coop for more than a couple of minutes at a time. I was fully expecting this for the first few days although now it seems to be developing into a pattern of behaviour rather than out of nervousness.

 

I have tried to tempt them out with treats hidden in hay to encourage foraging (this worked for about a minute). The thing is I can hear them scratching in the coop. I have tried moving them outside a couple of times but really don't want them to associate me with negative things.. although the only other thing I can think of is to shut them out of the coop for a little while so they get the idea. I am in Northamptonshire and the weather is about to get very dreary over the next few days so I want them to enjoy it outside whilst it is relatively nice.

 

Any advice is greatly received!

[sjp]

if you've put the fed and water in the coop then move it outside into the run that will go a long way to encouraging them outside they hard wired not to starve themselves

it could be that they've never yet been outside especially if they are hybrids they'll have gone from the hatchery to the rearing sheds to the supplier that you brought them from to their new home and from been in a large group to just the 3 of them so it a big upheaval to get use to they are going out so that's part of the battle won and as you've said you don't want them getting fixed on the negatives of going back in doors it won't do any harm through it you 'lock them out' once they do come out just don't forget to open the door before dusk

and we'll await you asking in a few days how long it takes them to put themselves to bed once they learn that it's more fun out than in

[Bluebubbles]

Thanks for the advice.

 

I had not even considered the fact that they were previously in a very large group so would have to adjust to it being the 3 of them.

 

We have had some small success today Claret (our ranger) has decided that she absolutely loves sweetcorn. I have been putting it out over the last couple of days and they weren't really bothered, however today Claret made a squawk of delight and came running out to gobble it all up! I think I am going to continue with the Carrot method for a little while longer, we are hoping to let them have a supervised free range this weekend so hopefully that might encourage them (I am completely anticipating the destruction of my herb garden and flower beds!).

 

Thanks again!

[Cat tails]

Personally I would give them a bit more time getting used to being in the run. If they don't really feel comfortable in there yet, they are less likely to return to it, once they are out of the run.

 

When I got my pullets they hadn't been 'outside' before. "Sky" was the scary big blue. But they adjusted fine, when you give them some time.

[sjp]

don't rush the free ranging let them get comfortable with going into the run first the the first 2 or 3 times of FR only let them out about an hour before dusk that way they're more likely to go back in on their own but I think the first time you try to FR them they'll stay in the run and not go over the threshold of the doorway I've had that happen more than once. just take every new thing slowly at their pace it's less stressful for them and more importantly you one tip put some corn or dried peas in a small plastic bottle to make a rattle then when ever you give them a few treats rattle the bottle as you through out the treats and as they start to eat them it'll soon train them to come running and only give the and mix corn treats in the run that way if you need to get them back in the run in a hurry it'll be a lot easier to bribe them that to chase them around the garden