Solving Omlet Smart Auto Door Timing Issues with Alexa Routines

[Rona]

1. How much should they eat? Today the girls spent all day scratching and pecking at the grass and although I have seen them with their heads in the grub they don't seem to have eaten much. I tried mixing some pellets with a bit of warm water incase they preferred it softer but they didn't eat much of that either. Same with mixed corn, although they seemed interested in that they just pecked at bits and spat them out. I think they only ate about a teaspoonful of food all day.They seem quite happy and much livelier today but they are such skinny little things I don't want them to waste away.

 

2. Also how long till they find their own way into the eglu at bedtime? Merlot managed to put herself to bed again OK but Shiraz and Cava decided they were going to sleep out in the run on the perch I had made for them. I guess the poor girls have always lived and slept in the same space so don't understand any different. Anyway, I pulled the perch out carefully with them hanging on until the last couple of inches After a little while they still hadn't gone to bed and it was really quite dark by then and they were up the other end of the run again getting quite agitated so I got my little torch out again and opened the egg port just a crack to shine it in. Shiraz got the idea but silly Cava decided I looked like something good to perch on and kept trying to fly up at me (I suppose should could see my face and hands in the darkness) but of course she kept hitting her head on the top of the run as she couldn't see the wire in the dark. I had to duck down and hide behind the eglu so she couldn't see my face before she eventually went in. Will she learn soon or should I go out and get a black balaclava and gloves?

 

You don't have to be mad to have chickens but it helps

[Guest]

They will eat what they need, they will soon settle down and get used to the food and yummy treats you offer them.

 

As for going into the Eglu - they should have that in a few days the expression "your chickens come home to roost" is very true. Your girls are not normal - they have had a live without choices so it may take them a few days to get used to freedom and the luxury of all the choices they now have in their lives.

[chelsea]

I tend not to let my lot out of the run too early in the morning, that way I know they have nothing else but pellets to munch on before they are released out into the garden! If they are that hungry they will have to eat them then!

 

Dont worry too much about your girls, once they've settled they will be fine.

[Guest]

did you say you were feeding them pellets? The BHWT told us to feed them layers mash, they should have given you a fact sheet with info on about various welfare and feeding info.

 

The info is also on the BHWT web site here

 

http://www.bhwt.org.uk/caringforhens.html

 

If they told you to feed them pellets then don't worry about, as long as they know where to find them, they'll eat them.

 

We had to put ours to bed for the first few days, after that they put themselves to bed and then we just close the door to keep them safe and sound.

[Rona]

I went out and got some dry layers mash as soon as I read your post this morning. I had read the information on BHWT and been told that they were used to dust type feed but I didn't realise that it was chicken meal. I feel so stupid, poor girls were starving . I filled their feeder before I went out this morning and Merlot and Shiraz soon got stuck into it but Cava was still huddled in a corner when I had to go out. Just got back and they are all feeding happily and really perky. Such a relief, thank you!

[The Dogmother]

They'll take a while to get used to having food and water in a different manner Rona - in the cages, they get their food from a tube fed system rather than a grub so they don't get a chance to stuff their faces. their water is in a dripper system, so if they have trouble drinking them try them with a bunny bottle for a while.

 

As Pengy says, all these choices must be bewildering for them - they'll come out of it fine, don't worry. Small steps

[Guest]

have a good read of the BHWT site, it's very useful- we also add a little poultry spice to our layers mash to perk them up a bit and some garlic granules (the horse type ones not human ones) to make their poop smell less.

[The Dogmother]

They'll each adjust to their new life at different speeds Rona. Emma (the herd) is the best person to speak to - she has loads of ex-batteries.

[Christian]

Rona, don't feel bad. You haqve done a wonderful thing by rehoming ex batts!!

 

Add a few pellets to their mash and gradually, over a few weeks increase the pellet to mash ratio. They will soon get used to it. I find pellets so much tidier than mash, but others prefer mash.

[Rona]

Thanks so much for all your advice and support. I had read all the info on the BHWT site months ago but now I have got the girls it is so much more meaningful so have read it again. ......and will read it again a few more times until it sinks in (dozy old bat )

 

They also put themselves to bed tonight so I didn't have to do my commando act behind the eglu. I did have to turn the kitchen lights out and dim the sitting room light as no curtains at the back of the house and Cava tried to get through the run towards the light. Once its dark and she cant see the run she obviously thinks "I can't see it, therefore it doesn't exist". She is a funny little thing - much smaller than the others and they tend to bully her.

 

Oh well I can cope with dimming the lights and putting my feet up for a little while as soon as it gets dark.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

(dozy old bat )