Unhappy Balck Rock

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Anonymous

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Morning, everyone.
I just posted a health question on the other forum, but thought I'd better move over to this one for this query.

I only got my first chikens yesterday. One of the Black Rocks (Gertie) is fine in the run, but the other (Beritie) is beside herself in trying to get out. it's quite heart-breaking to see her banging on the wire all the way around.

I know they are free-range birds, but I know lots of people who have put them in runs. Will she settle down? She's also pecking the little Pekins, whereas Gertie is not bothering with them at all.

I'm chicken-proofing the garden this morning so that I can let them out, so hopefully this will help settle her nerves, poor thing.

Thanks.

Liz
 
Hi, im no expert as only been keeping chooks for a few months, but when i first got mine i had one, Mcqueen, who displayed similar behaviour to Bertie. I found that once she realised there was food water and shelter in the pen and also that 'freedom' could be found every couple of days in the way of free ranging @the garden she soon settled down. It is hard to watch them get so rattled by a cage, dont make the mistake i made though, Mcqueen is so named due to her very very enthusiastic attempts of escape in the first day!!! :o

stu
 
Oh, Stu, I've already suffered that!
I've owned them for less than 24 hours and one of my little Pekins disappeared this morning - good job I checked them before I went out.
I searched the garden;looked in the cat's den;under bushes and back in nthe hen house loads of times before i realised that, yes, she had actually legged it.

After the panic subsided, I loaded my pockets with food and set out to scour the neighbouring gardens - just as i was about to leave the garden I noticed a little buff furry thing standing by the coop saying, "You can let me in when you're ready". I think Buffy will be called Houdini from now on.

On a much more exciting note - I got my very first egg today, and I didn't expect anything for a week or two, so I am over the moon.

Liz
 
If they are used to free ranging it can take a while for them to adjust. How big is the run area they have? I used to keep a fair few banties in a large run about 6 metres by 4 metres when out and they would free range round the garden when I was home. This was fine as the ones who might get picked on had plenty of room to go elsewhere. I had bushes, grass, plants and undergrowth in the run area also for them so they had lots to keep them busy.

The pecking should settle down but if it doesn't and the run area isn't really big enough for the hen pecked ones to get away, you either need to separate them or part with the problem hens.
 
Also don't be too quick to let them out to free range. They need a few days to learn where home is and to settle in. Letting them out before they have formed an attachment with their new home might mean they are harder to put away.
 
Thanks, again.
Both points noted. Thankfully my wanderer returned of her own accord this morning. As for the unhappy hen, she seems better today and I haven't noticed any pecking so far. The local butcher told me this morning that I need to keep them in for a few days for the to get used to their new home, so that will give me a little more time to make absolutely certain that Houdini can't eacape again.
Thanks.

Liz

PS You mention a chicken blog - whrere is it? I am open to all advice possible.
 
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