Eating from our hands

[RedThorn]

hi all

Thought I'd just let you know that Noodle is now eating out of our hands... yay!!!! All the girls have now learnt to scratch properly too! They still don't like to go too far from their run but and a B****r to get back in the run during the day and moan like hell when we lock them in their run when we go out! DD laughs at OH as she chases them around to get them inside to go on the school run much to the OH annoyance.....

Second good bit of news:
OH now wants more chooks too (who am I to dissapoint her!)

Can you keep chooks in 2 separate houses at night? will this effectively create 2 flocks or will it be ok? Can they be kept in 2 smaller coops at night and get along fine during the day?

[allotmentlady]

awwwww how great, you must be so pleased :-) no nothing about chooks i am afraid but good luck

[RedThorn]

lol thanks... you had no idea! OH is a softie inside! hehe

[allotmentlady]

yes and by the sounds of it you are too lol...........u need to post some pics of em xx

[lynda66]

try mealworms for getting them eating out of your hand, they are a major delicacy i would say, just get a big shed and put em all in it, then you'll have room for more when the next lot you get aren't enough

[RedThorn]

lol don't want to push the OH too hard! Got loads of scaff boards, the walls won't rot at least!

[RedThorn]

yes and by the sounds of it you are too lol...........u need to post some pics of em xx

I'll see about getting some pics of them tomorrow Their feathers are starting to fill out nicely too!

[Nicos]

Can't advise about the 2 levels- but I get mine in with a plastic jug....it's always got yummies of sorts in it- and I just nip out every hour or so with something in it...you'd be surprised how quickly they learn it's worth flying from one end of the field for their treats!!!
Raisins and sultanas and mealworm are my chooks favourites!

Glad you're really enjoying your new family....I really never thought I'd be so addicted to mine

photos??..yes please!!!

[RedThorn]

Thanks Nicos.... will think about it some more.... During the day they will all be together, however it's at night that I'm worried about....

Ours perk right up when they hear the sliding door open.....especially Noodle, she thinks it's a humans plae to provide treats everytime the door opens

[MaureenHall]

I used to have the youngest chooks in a converted rabbit hutch and the others in a proper coop and there weren't any problems during the day, in fact they used to share the nest boxes in both "homes" then go to their own bedrooms at night

[RedThorn]

thanks Aunty Mo.... that answers my question!
*gets up and dances a jig around the room!*

YEHAW! hehe

[frias]

I used to have the youngest chooks in a converted rabbit hutch and the others in a proper coop and there weren't any problems during the day, in fact they used to share the nest boxes in both "homes" then go to their own bedrooms at night

That's so sweet and clever. Who said chickens are daft.

[frias]

hi all

Thought I'd just let you know that Noodle is now eating out of our hands... yay!!!! All the girls have now learnt to scratch properly too! They still don't like to go too far from their run but and a B****r to get back in the run during the day and moan like hell when we lock them in their run when we go out! DD laughs at OH as she chases them around to get them inside to go on the school run much to the OH annoyance.....:ee

My lot have to go in and out of the run all day too depending what I'm doing. (So frightened a fox will pay us a visit as soon as my back is turned.) Good job they are ruled by greed, a few tinned sweetcorn or grapes thrown into the run gets them in quickly.

[Eyren]

Can you keep chooks in 2 separate houses at night? will this effectively create 2 flocks or will it be ok? Can they be kept in 2 smaller coops at night and get along fine during the day?

I would just provide enough sleeping and laying space (I think the latter is one nestbox per three hens) and leave them to sort it out amongst themselves. Over on the Omlet forums I've heard of people getting a second eglu and then finding that all their hens squeeze together into the old one at night and ignore the new one

[RedThorn]

I would just provide enough sleeping and laying space (I think the latter is one nestbox per three hens) and leave them to sort it out amongst themselves. Over on the Omlet forums I've heard of people getting a second eglu and then finding that all their hens squeeze together into the old one at night and ignore the new one

lol When I peek in there at night to make sure they're all in before I close the door, I could get a further 6-8 in there the wat they all squeeze up together and leave 2/3rds of the coop free....