The first 24hours

[Hinksy]

Looked on so many websites and so much info about Chickens now I can not remember where I saw this but is it true for the first 24hours of getting new chickens you should keep them locked in the house?

I know I got this bit of info from somewhere but can not find it now.

Thanks

[MaureenHall]

Yes, you're right. It's usually advised to let them know where they "live" before letting them out into the big wide world. I think lots of us tend to get new chooks home during the late afternoon and pop them into the coop then, then open the door or pop hole next morning. If you're going along the route of 24 hours +, then make sure they've got some food and water. Flummery kept her girls in for 3 days and they were fine (bet there was loads of poo and spilt food and water though )

[Flummery]

When I got mine the breeder suggested I keep them in for 3 days! We have a house with an automatic pop-hole so we fitted a grille over the door so they had light in the day but stayed inside. They had food of course, and water (which had to be changed every couple of hours!)
He said this was to ensure that they recognise the house as their place of safety. By day 3 they were really up for an explore in the run and they put themselves to bed at night like good'uns.
He also said we should keep them in their run for 2 weeks for the same reason, so that they would view it as 'home'. The run is fairly big so not a problem from the space point of view. Initially I thought it seemed a bit extreme but it worked. I'd do it like that again.

[Nicos]

I was told several days too.
It certainly works-they instantly knew where to leg it when they heard a buzzard overhead during their first week with us!

[tricky]

Thanks for the tip hinksy ,first time ive heard this and ive been keeping chickens for over a year

[Glutton4...]

I got my girls home in the afternoon each time. I let each batch out the following morning. They were a little confused at bed-time, but I put the 'stragglers' to bed myself, and within a couple of days they were fine.

[tlck9]

I placed mine in the ark with the door open with food and water in the ark - they poked their heads out but didnt come out, since it wasnt long till bedtime I closed them up and next morning let them find there own way out.

I've had them two weeks now and they are wandering around the allotment as though they have been there for ever!

[Hinksy]

Well I only kept the Hens in the main house over'night and let them out the next day to run about. They soon take themselves off to bed in the main house when it gets dark, very clever girls and they are becoming very fridndly too which is all good.

[Hinksy]

Just thought I would do a quick update on the Chickens.

Had them a month today and so far this last week we have had 12 Eggs from them so all seems good, they are becoming very tame and keep following us around the garden. So glad we got them now they are great pets for the garden and the eggs are a bonus, they are adictive though and have now bought another Chicken coop and getting some Bantams after our holidays in June

Thanks to everyone on here for all the help and advice so far so good everything is going great and the Chickens are happy getting the run of the garden.. (except my veg beds!