eggysoldiers Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 So.... The garden is cleared. The eglu is built. The woodchip is in (I need more for around the run and to tidy up a bit)... But I even managed to get paving slabs at b&m.... and most importantly the little bantams arrive tomorrow. A few days earlier than expected so it’s been a bit of a scramble. But I’m super excited!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 How exciting! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted April 6, 2020 Share Posted April 6, 2020 Are they here?!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggysoldiers Posted April 7, 2020 Author Share Posted April 7, 2020 They arrived yesterday morning. Will try and get better pics today, yesterday turned into a hectic day (nothing to do with the chooks).... They had a good scratch around when they got here. Seemed ok. Ate some corn and mealworms and even some food. Then they went and hid in the house for most of the day. I turfed them out about 5pm and they had another wee dig until bedtime. Have just let them out this morning. super cute. Still need names Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Very pretty hens! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 They are lovely 😍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 They look beautiful and I love where you have put them in your garden. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggysoldiers Posted April 8, 2020 Author Share Posted April 8, 2020 It’s a fairly small garden, but hopefully big enough for them. I haven’t braved letting them out of the run yet. Thought I’d give them a few days to settle... At the moment they keep going into the house. Should I shut them out of it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 No, just let them explore. Best to keep them in the run for at least a week, to build up a homing instinct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggysoldiers Posted April 8, 2020 Author Share Posted April 8, 2020 57 minutes ago, The Dogmother said: No, just let them explore. Best to keep them in the run for at least a week, to build up a homing instinct. I was thinking keep them in the run, so thanks for confirming... But they keep going back into the eglu.... Should I shut the eglu so they are in the run or is it ok if they spend a lot of the day in the house? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 No, just leave them to explore - they'll be out when they are more confident. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggysoldiers Posted April 8, 2020 Author Share Posted April 8, 2020 7 minutes ago, The Dogmother said: No, just leave them to explore - they'll be out when they are more confident. Thankyou!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 Lovely ladies......any ideas for names yet? Sometimes it's best to get to know them and their characters first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 Just a thing to note if you’re planning to let them out of their run to explore your garden once they’ve settled in - they will easily be up onto and then over your fencing - it’ll be more than a wing assisted jump even than a flight. Just something to consider... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggysoldiers Posted April 8, 2020 Author Share Posted April 8, 2020 No names yet.... I was hoping to let them out to explore. Had been going to clip a wing. But do you think they will still get over? I don’t want to keep them in the run all the time but I can’t easily change the fences...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 My bantams can clear a 6ft fence! One can even do it with a clipped wing so she is on permanent lockdown. When you first let them out, do it in the evening as they will naturally want to go home to roost. Also start training them to come to you when you rattle a tin or something. Give them a treat every time you rattle and they’ll soon learn 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 My bantams would clear that fence with a hop. My Wyandotte loves to sit high and will sit on top of anything. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 2 hours ago, Patricia W said: My bantams can clear a 6ft fence! One can even do it with a clipped wing so she is on permanent lockdown. When you first let them out, do it in the evening as they will naturally want to go home to roost. Also start training them to come to you when you rattle a tin or something. Give them a treat every time you rattle and they’ll soon learn Mine all come when I whistle and rattle the seed pot, straight in the run and door closed. Better recall than the dogs! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 Mine all come when I call too. Are they all Wyandotte’s? My Wyandotte’s will hop / flap up onto a solid fence or gate and then jump down the other side, but they won’t fly up and over a mesh fence like the Omlet fencing and certainly not with a clipped wing. So perhaps a solution would be to have some Omlet fence you could put up when they were out and about in the garden. My Dutch bantams and Campine will fly straight out over anything, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggysoldiers Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 2 hours ago, mullethunter said: Mine all come when I call too. Are they all Wyandotte’s? My Wyandotte’s will hop / flap up onto a solid fence or gate and then jump down the other side, but they won’t fly up and over a mesh fence like the Omlet fencing and certainly not with a clipped wing. So perhaps a solution would be to have some Omlet fence you could put up when they were out and about in the garden. My Dutch bantams and Campine will fly straight out over anything, They are all Wyandotte’s.... Might have to invest in omlet fencing!! Thankyou. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...