Another stupid question...

[VirginVegGrower]

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!

They sound like they've already made themselves at home. Have you hung any cabbages up? Gives them exercise if placed at jumping height; plus greens mean yellow yolks.

[Likac66]

I was right! The two that nested in the roosting area still won't go up there to sleep tonight. The one that isn't laying yet is happily perched in the coop roosting nicely.

Oh well, we'll get there I'm sure.

[Likac66]

They sound like they've already made themselves at home. Have you hung any cabbages up? Gives them exercise if placed at jumping height; plus greens mean yellow yolks.

They've had some broccoli cut offs and the girls keep feeding them dandelion leaves and weeds that I've pulled up - things like lambs quarters - but I did buy some spring greens today which I will hang up for them tomorrow. Feels wrong buying that kind of veg but I haven't got anything ready yet.

[VirginVegGrower]

You need to add their poop, newspaper or shavings to your compost pile. Building a pallet bin might be your next big project
It acts as a fabulous activator to your grass clippings, peelings, newspaper and cardboard

Lidl/Aldi sell cheap cabbages, although mine are now hearting, so the girls are due a treat or two.
Plant a chard on your allotment, as mine go mad for that.
Have you wormed them with Flubenvet?

[Norfolk drew]

Perpetual spinach is great for hens

[Likac66]

I just sowed some chard and spinach this week as it so happens!

[VirginVegGrower]

Have you wormed them Likac? Needs doing fairly pronto, just in case.

[Likac66]

I've got some worming stuff but didn't think to ask when they had been done. Should I assume they need doing straight away?

The liquid they gave me is Verm-X. Is that any good?

[Likac66]

Oh and a result today - neighbour at the allotment gave me a seed tray full of red cabbages. Must be 60 seedlings in there! I'm going to plant some at the allotment but the rest of the seedlings I'm going to grow on and use for chicken fodder before they heart.

[VirginVegGrower]

I've got some worming stuff but didn't think to ask when they had been done. Should I assume they need doing straight away?

The liquid they gave me is Verm-X. Is that any good?

Most of us use Flubenvet, which you can buy from the horsey store in Ashby de la Zouche or CWG in Tutbury. I'm out so going to get some tomorrow. I would do them as soon as. I was advised the same by the ladies on here.

[Likac66]

So I'm using verm-x now but I have Flubenvet ordered online.

We had a soft egg this morning - laid very early whereas all their other eggs have been laid after 10am so I wonder if it just wasn't quite ready.

We extended their run today and let them out in it and I hung up their feed, water and grit hoppers so in total they have about 2.5m x 2.5m.

Best result of all today though - all 3 girls have gone to bed in the coop tonight so it's the first time I have been able to shut them away properly overnight. Can't tell you how good that feels. Interestingly though, only one of them uses a perch, the other two are flat on the bottom of the coop. But who cares, they are sleeping in the right bit. You never know, they might actually lay an egg in the right place tomorrow!!

[Likac66]

Well, 2 weeks later and they now all sleep in the right place and best of all, today all 3 of them laid eggs in the nest boxes. They come to us as soon as we go out in the garden and are beginning to let us stroke them.

Henrietta, the biggest and bossiest, has managed to escape out of the extended run two nights in a row though so will have to reconsider the set up!

[Likac66]

Woohoo! Today I picked up one of the chickens. It was the first time I had managed to pick one up - she's called Pepper and I noticed a couple of days ago that she let me stroke her and yesterday she kind of hunkered down when I stroked her so today I picked her up.

I know for most chicken keepers this is not a big deal, but it was the one thing I was most nervous about - would I be able to pick them up. Hopefully it will help me to persevere with trying to pick up the other two. Although it has to be said that Pepper is most definitely the tamest - she is the one who pecks at my toes and clothes and has no fear of me or the kids at all.

[Likac66]

Here are my lovely chickens and my lovely girls holding their lovely eggs...

[VirginVegGrower]

Very proud they look too