Advice about new additions

[zoella16]

Hi everyone

We have recently got 2 chucks for our back garden, a Gingernut ranger and a Rhode rock. Lovely girls! I have them in the coop with a small run at the moment, we do have a bigger pen to let them roam in but the lady advised to let them get used to the place before letting them loose! How long is it advised to do this? This is their 3rd night and the first night they put themselves on their perches so I think this is good progress. Will they try and escape if I let them out too soon?

Thanks

 

[Marigold]

Hi Zoella and welcome to the Forum. Congratulations on your new chickens!
Could you give some idea of the size of the runs in your setup, and how you intend to use the other, larger run? It sounds as if you may have a small coop with an attached small run, such as an Eglu with its wire run. (I'm supposing this because I know Omlet sell hybrids that they call Gingernut Rangers, very good hens too but I'm probably wrong about Omlet.) is the other run attached to the first one, so the girls can have access to the coop from there, or is it entirely separate, just for use in the daytime after they have laid their eggs?
I would say that, for new hens settling in together, this is a stressful time, and what they need is space. Overcrowding causes stress to hens, they may fight or peck each others feathers, so the usual recommendation is for a run size minimum of 2 sq. metres of floor space per bird, more is better, especially in a small run where there's little room for them to get away from an aggressor - hens can be horrible to each other. So, although you might at first have difficulty catching them if you just let them loose in the garden, they would benefit from living in the largest space you can safely provide for them, at least during the day. Maybe you could fill us in a bit about what accommodation you have available, so we can make suggestions about what to do next?
What have you called your girls, and how old are they? (Their age in weeks will suggest when you can expect those exciting first eggs!)

 

[Chuck]

The usual pattern is for them to get used to the new environment before they stray too far. Train them to come to you for a bit of mixed corn or wheat, then if they do wander, they will come back to you. Train them for a few days, then let them out.

 

[zoella16]

Hi again,

Yes we have a henhouse with a small wire run attached. This is placed in a larger pen that we have made which is basically just a big section of the garden wired off but it has no roof so I am conscious that they may be able to make an escape! I was hoping that they could roam the larger area during day and put themselves in their house at night. So maybe if I top their food and water up or throw some greens or corn in before dusk this will keep them close to their house?

They are 19 weeks old, medium sized birds. I read that they will be around 2.9kg. They aren't pecking each other thankfully but they don't have a lot of space.

Thanks for your help.

 

[zoella16]

P.S They are called Hilda & Matilda

 

[Chuck]

No need to top up feed excessively at night as this will just attract rats. The hens will naturally go to bed as yours already are and work their way closer to the sleeping quarters as the light fades. This is their security. Some go to bed even now at around 4 pm when there's still a lot of light. While there is enough vegetation to interest them in the pens, they are unlikely to stray. As the evenings draw out, they will go to bed later and get up earlier with the sun.
Don't like to say it but I'd say they are more at risk from foxes than wandering and really need a fox proof pen for when you are not around.

 

[zoella16]

Oh right okay. Thanks for the advice.

Our garden is quite enclosed, we have 6ft hedges down both sides which we have lined with chicken wire, then a big fence at the bottom and all we back onto is other gardens and we're right in the middle of a housing estate. The chickens are kept close to the house and I can look out at them from the window. I don't mind if the fox comes after dusk when they are safe in bed but will they come before then when they might still be out? I suppose the problem is as soon as he knows the chickens are there :-/

I had planned to put them in the smaller run that is attached to the house if we went out as this has a chicken wire skirt and paving slabs all around it however this all depends on if they are willing?! We are trying to get them used to being handled and giving a treat of corn by hand so hopefully will be able to pop them in there when I need to.

 

[Marigold]

I have to say that I think Chuck is right, and that you will not be able to be completely happy about leaving them unsupervised in the largerrun area during the day, even when you are watching from the house. In most areas now, foxes are a menace even in suburban gardens, during the day, especially at the beginning and end, but at any time really. There are people on here who have told heartrending stories of swift and deadly daytime fox attacks, especially as the fox breeding season is now, and they have to hunt even more energetically to feed their cubs. Whilst the hens may be secure in the wire run, this is probably too small for them for longer than a short time, and I expect you have already found that these low, small wire runs are near impossible to clean out daily, compared with a walk-in run which you can enter without bending and crawling. Daily poo picking is essential, not only for health reasons and to prevent smell developing, but to keep the girls' feet clean so that when they start to lay, they dont walk muck all over the eggs. Also, if you can keep the poo level down, there is less risk that the birds will set up a worm cycle by pecking at ground where contaminated droppings lie, and thus re-ingesting worm eggs into their gut.
The best solution in the long term is to instal a secure walk-in run, with foxproof base, 2 metres high so you can walk inside without bending, and with strong mesh sides and roof. Foxes can easily scale a 6ft fence or wall, so the run needs a roof, either of the same wire mesh as the sides, or a solid roof which will also keep out rain and help prevent mud on the floor. Then you can place their coop inside this run, (store the wire run until you need to isolate a chicken one of these days,) and relax in the knowledge that your girls are safe to leave and have plkenty of space even when not out in the garden. There are lots of threads on here about making your owen run, we're always going on about it, so plenty of help is available if you want to discuss ideas and queries.

 

[Chuck]

Not if they are willing !! You are the boss and have to take responsibility for their safety. Foxes are everywhere, day and night as so many of us have found to our cost. They can scramble up six feet and more. As I said, they are easily trained to go where you want them with a little corn or other treats.
It sounds like you've got the makings of a nice little set up there, just needs a bit of tweaking.

 

[Martdog3]

Just had to write re your new run as I was in the same situation as you.I have 6ft. fences and shrubs all round,fox still got in so I topped it with coils of barbed wire all round,fox still got in,don't know how,and that was quite literally mid-day.wiped out all my hens.We have now completely roofed the run,which is quite a large area.So far so good but could still see tracks when we had snow so he's still trying despite also leaving barb wire up.Do not underestimate them.I also have 3 large dogs but their scent doesn't put him off.Soon be cubs about to feed as well so be careful it really is upsetting to loose all your stock in one fell swoop.

 

[zoella16]

Thanks everyone. I'm really anxious about his now I've taken up residence in the chicken pen until this is sorted! We are looking into making or buying an extended run to add onto the existing one which is completely enclosed. The run part is only 64cm high though so I'm thinking I might aswell just buy lots of aviary panels and build a 'walk in' pen around the existing set up. But I'm not very good at DIY :-( will start hunting through the other threads for second hand runs etc

Thanks for all your help!

Chuck, they will eat corn from our hands now yay

 

[zoella16]

P.S This is what our house looks like
http://www.amazon.co.uk/COCOON-CHICKEN-HOUSE-POULTRY-OPENED/dp/B0049TC9Y8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1363717208&sr=8-2

Any expert ideas on how to extend this setup?

I was thinking maybe take the end panel out and extend length ways or maybe take both door panel and end panel out and extend both ways... 19

 

[chrismahon]

Hi Martdog3, sorry it got in despite your measures. Their preference is to dig underneath, so perhaps you have missed the entry point?

 

[bantiekeeper]

[attachment=0]image.jpg[/attachmentI agree with Marigold. Build a walk in covered run round your existing setup. I have this setup on my allotment and have slabs on the ground all round.
No problem in five years of fox trying to dig under as I read that they will not step back from a vertical wall to dig. True so far!
The corrugated panels clip on and off to keep driving rain and snow out, keeping the run nice and dry.

 

[zoella16]

Wow that looks fabulous bantiekeeper! Your chickens will be grateful for that this weekend!

 

[bantiekeeper]

Thanks, Zoella. It is home to my 7 Wyandotte bantam hens. They have just started laying in earnest again, 27 eggs last week. But they hate the cold and wind so will probably head for the greenhouse tomorrow when I let them out to free range!