Another stupid question...

[Likac66]

Sorry - but I am getting my chickens tomorrow and I'm suddenly nervous about all sorts of things!

When I bring them home and I've set everything up, should I put the chickens straight into the hen HOUSE or the run (which the house is in)?

[elizajay]

In the house. Let them know where home is.

[Likac66]

Ok, I thought so. Makes sense really.

[RichmondHens]

Don't know what time you are picking them up but it would make sense to keep them shut in for the whole day and not let them out till the following morning. The dark of the house will keep them quiet, although you might hear a few squeaks and scuffles from time to time. They will be fine without food or water for that time. In any case most new birds don't eat or drink much for a day or so till they start to feel comfortable with their new surroundings.

[Likac66]

Thanks for that Richmond. Picking them up at lunchtime. Not sure my kids will thank you for that advice as they will be desperate to watch them!

The coop we have has a little door with window so it won't be completely dark in there. Should I cover that?

[VirginVegGrower]

If you are picking them up at lunch then you can't really leave them until 9:30, which is when mine are taking themselves in at the moment. I would pop them in the house, pophole open and they will find their way out into the run. Then they should know where to go, in order to take themselves back in. If you know what I mean. That's the reasoning behind it. Do not be tempted to let them out of the run for a few days, until all has calmed down.

[Harrisonfox]

Happy chicken keeping don't be worried if there are a few skirmishes if your having more than 2 as they will need to sort out the pecking order. Just let them do there own thing and enjoy I've been keeping them for about 4 yrs now and would not be without them.

[Likac66]

They won't go back in the coop! It's now 8.50 and I thought they would have taken themselves in by now. One of them has gone up the ramp a couple of times and come back down. The others keep going under the coop but won't go up the ramp. I am a bit worried I'm going to have to try to catch them but I don't want to stress them.

[Daffy]

Don't worry, mine aren't in yet. They will probably start to roost in the next 10/15 mins. When I first got them they used to roost in the tree that's in their run. I would wait till they settled and then just pick them up and pop them in the coop.

[VirginVegGrower]

They won't go back in the coop! It's now 8.50 and I thought they would have taken themselves in by now. One of them has gone up the ramp a couple of times and come back down. The others keep going under the coop but won't go up the ramp. I am a bit worried I'm going to have to try to catch them but I don't want to stress them.

They're hoping for tasty treats and late night outing. They are explorers by nature. They go when darkness comes - it's their wristwatch! Don't panic. Mine are still out.

[RichmondHens]

Well if you had left them in you wouldn't be worrying about them going to bed ........ but if they don't go in of their own accord then scoop them up when dark and put them on the perches . Do not let them sleep in the nestbox, it is bad habit and one best stopped before it's even started.

[Likac66]

OK, so I know I've done lots of things wrong already. Last night I could not get the birds in. The 3 of them tucked themselves under the coop to roost, the biggest and bossiest positioned herself in front of the other two with her head facing outwards, like she was protecting the other 2. It simply wasn't possible to get them out - well not for a nervous first timer, so after much debate, phonecalls to a chicken keeping friend and stressing we left them there. I hardly slept a wink with worry.

This morning all the girls were fine and decided to spend a good hour or two this morning in and out of the coop like it was a new toy. This has made me think they do at least know it's there.

Even better, 2 of them were in and out of the nest boxes and making lots of noise. We left them to it.

When we came home, they had kicked the straw out of the nest boxes, into the roosting area and had laid 2 beautiful brown eggs.

So instead of the issue of them sleeping in the nest boxes, I have a potential issue of them nesting in the roosting area. And if they nested in there this morning, does this mean that they won't want to roost in there tonight either?

I could try to block off the area under the coop this evening so they can't get under there to roost. This might make the coop more appealing.

Oh - and when I went to clean out the box they came home in yesterday I found another egg! I can't believe one of them actually laid an egg in there!

[bearded bloke]

Don't stress about your chooks Likac,they will sort themselves out.Remember you are as new to them as they are to you & if they are like mine they will kip where they want when they want

[Likac66]

Thanks, I guess if they are laying they must be reasonably happy!

I feel a lot less stressed than I did last night. I guess I just need to chill and let things work themselves out.

[Nicos]

Sounds like they are doing fine!