New to this..

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
  • Start date Start date
A

Anonymous

Guest
hey, got 3 chickens on monday...and built a (seemingly) decent run for them.

At first they went out as a three.. staying together and not making much noise.. as the days have gone by they seem to venture more on their own now, and clucking gently.

Im just wondering since, I AM new to this, if there are any obvious signs that show they are happy/comfortable and if they will starting making more noise.

And if there are any easy & simple methods of keeping the foxes away apart from the obvious secure run/coup.


Thanks, sorry if my questions are a little silly to the more experienced,

Jared
 
Hi Jared, and welcome!
Your chickens sound happy to me - wandering around exploring, scratching about and clucking to themselves are very good signs that they are already happy and comfortable- so well done :D
The fox question is a harder one that can depend on where you live as much as anything else- I'm sure more experienced people will be along soon to give you some ideas.
Nicky
 
Hi Jared and welcome :)
I hope you enjoy your new girls :)
Chickens don't normally make lots of noise unless frightened or wanting to lay and after laying.So yours seem to have settled down. As for Mr fox - you must lock them up EVERY night - or keep them in a very secure run- either covered with strong wire or electric fenced- even then i would lock them up every night.
I live in a very rural area- lots of foxes- they visit every night - my neighbours have all lost stock- and blame the fox- i blame them- it's only nature- i have not lost a single bird to a fox- probably lucky but the one night i leave anything out or forget to lock up a coop they will be gone. Sometimes foxes will visit during the day especially if they have young to feed- that's where you need to be extra vigilant- Only a secure run/coop will stop them. You may not see them but i guarantee they will be round every night waiting for the chance- but don't let me put you off your great new hobby- you will really enjoy it and add to your flock i am sure :)
regards, David :)
 
thank you both for your feedback...

I never knew chickens would be so fun/cool.. love them to bits!

Does the human urine deterant actually work? Ive had a few people tell me but im not sure if its a myth or not..

thanks
 
I've heard that too, also a dog's scent around the perimeter & human hair hung on the fences. No idea if they're myths or actually help but since loosing my first chooks to a fox, my hubby does his duty :lol: & so does the dog. Recon it doesn't do any harm & you never know, might help ;)

(Also now have a mesh roof on the run so its fully enclosed top & sides, taking no chances)
 
Hello, no, human urine does not work- think of all the city foxes down back alleys looking for food scraps- how much human urine is down those :shock: :shock: :shock:
It is a myth, sorry :)
regards. David :)
 
Bugger!!...Was just about to send my husband outside to pee around the perimeter...he is relieved as it would of taken him awhile.....hee hee :lol:
 
Hi jared,

I'm new to this too, haven't even got my girls yet (arrive Saturday). Thankful the urine doesn't work because I think hubby would shoot me if I asked him to oblige. :D
We live in a town with houses all around but still get a foxy visitor some nights. Just managed to save our guinea pigs from him last summer but luckily had a pretty sturdy hutch and a cairn terrier alert to any unwanted guests. Like you, I'm worried about the chickens but have sunk wire 1ft deep with slabs on top and have bought an xlarge walk in dog run as a pen, figuring that if a dog can't get out then a fox can't get in. Covering the top with mesh. Hubby says it's over-kill but I'll do anything to keep them safe!

Hope everything is still great with your girls!
 
hey everyone, appreciate the support and help..

but heres another dilema I have..

I came home at about 10 o clock tonight and when I went round to check on my girls they hadnt gone in their coup, which is strange, my younger sister told me she had tried to get them into their coup but they were determined to stay where they were. All three were perched on a wooden box in the corner of the run ( furthest point away from the coup) I tried encouraging them of the box with a small length of wood, to no avail, they would not move, they clung on with their feet and flapped around, clucking.

In the end I Had to climb in the run ( about 4ft tall and im around 6ft) and drag the box to the entrance of the coup and lift them in one-by-one, even then they would not budge from near the door and tucked themseleves down to the floor.

My sister said she had seen the neighbours cat near the coup at the opposite end of the run to where the box was which they were all sat on (the chickens were very low down, not stood up like normal ).

this has startled me and made me a bit cautious as ive heard about chickens dying from being so scared.... so my question is this - how are my chickens going to cope? ive had them 4 days now and its only just happened, im going to deter the cat as much as possible to save my chickens as ive spent money and time on them and have become quite attacked to them, I look forward to hearing some of your suggests/ and experienced knowledge!

Thank-you, Jared


oh and Im wondering, since im looking to get maybe two or three more chickens if they'd feel safer with more of them together, thanks!
 
Hi Jared,

Being scared to death isn't quite true,what kills the bird,or other animal is shock.Although the shock could be caused by terror/being scared.
Whatever the cat did,it must have been something very scary to your hens,all animals fall into one of two groups,prey or predator.Hens are obviously in the prey group,so need to be able to flee to somewhere safe.
The obvious place being their house,they chose a box,as this was probably the highest elevation they could find.In the wild to avoid predators,they would perch,so I'd actually suggest a few perches in their run,so they can get off the ground if they want or need to.This isn't something I have tried,so I don't know if it will work or not :? .
I suspect that although your hens are settling well,they still need more time to get used to their new home and surroundings.You can help by sticking to the same routine every day for them.Letting them out of their hse at the same time each day,and likewise shutting them in at the same time every night.I would suggest giving them a treat,in their hse,like a cherry tom or a grape each.Say something like 'in you go' or 'bedtime'.Use the same word and they will associate the word with treat and going into their hen house.
As to a cat deterrant,I would try something safe,available from a pet shop/garden centre,sold in a gel form that I believe you put on the ground.Once again,I have never used one,so don't know which ones work.
 
check the house for red mite, its normally a first sign, that hens don't want to go into the house.
i hope everythings ok tho
 
ok, thanks lydia, appreciate your input! :-)

ive checked the coup for red mite.. non at all, the chickens are all fine now, they have started making much more noise now... thanks for all the help everyone!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top