The Poultry Keeper

Alfietinker · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 82 Location: Southminster, Essex

This is in tandem with my question on feed but I thought I'd keep them separate.

I've read "Starting with Chickens" as recommended by Fenwoman (thanks! Smile

) I am a little confused with one aspect and I'd like to check if this is applicable to me?

The book recommends keeping chooks in their coop for the first 24 hours to instill the concept of 'their home' before letting them loose. As my chooks are pretty much going to be living in a large run, do I need to do this? Or is this only for free rangers?

I've had to take the book back to the library now so I'm speaking from memory. Apologies if I"ve got the wrong end of the stick.

Looking like chooks in 2 weeks time now! Smile

Thanks in advance

Janine

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Hello Janine, As your girls are going to live in a coup and in a run, there is no need to keep them in for 24 hours. Although if you get them say afternoon, you will have to show them the way into the house. I would be inclined to get them earlier in the day and put them in the house for maybe an hour or so and then let them out. You may still have to help them back in for the first night ~ but make sure you put them through the pop hole. I made the mistake of taking one round to my door and I still had to put her in the next night as she hadn't registered coming out of the pophole with going back in through it!
I suggest getting them in the morning, so you have more time to watch them the first day!

debcat · Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 10:44 pm Post subject:

Or if you get them late in the day shut them in till the next morning then just let them in the run and they should go back in at night

Alfietinker · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 82 Location: Southminster, Essex

Thanks ever so much you two - I wasn't expecting an answer so quickly! This forum is invaluable to novices like me, I hope I'll be able to answer some questions some day and return the favour!

I'm pleased I don't have to keep them in for a day - I can spend more time with them Smile

I will have to speak to their current minder, but I will should be able to pick them up in the morning, they are only 2 streets away. (They are 'on hold' for me at the moment. The lady needed to move a few dozen pullets in January and has very kindly held on to these for me)

I know this may be obvious, but at what point would I know if they can't find their way into the coop? I know they roost at dusk, but would they be actively looking for somewhere to perch and looking confused? I wouldn't want to put them away too early.

Ooooohhhhhh! Smile

debcat · Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 11:12 pm Post subject:

as dusk hits mine start heading for the barn or coop
theres always 1 or 2 stragglers that hang about by the door till the last minute
once it's half dark they should be in or nearly in
if there's any left once it's just about dark then you could 'post' them back through the pophole
they should just go in though
I moved some to a new house this week and they just went in

Alfietinker · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 82 Location: Southminster, Essex

Aahh, I see. Thank you!

CP · Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 2:26 am Post subject:

I've read that having a light on in the coop encourages them inside at roosting time. Wink

Probably a torch would do the trick.

HelenP · Joined: 12 Mar 2006 Posts: 144 Location: GLOUCESTERSHIRE

The 5 new birds I got yesterday and let out into their run about 2 ish had put themselves to bed just after 6pm. When I went out to close the pop hole a couple of them heard me and nipped back out again! I was prepared to try the torch thing but didn't need to. Helen

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Yes, they look for somewhere safe once dusk starts to fall and by the time it is dark ~ they will either be in the house or finding a quiet corner to hide in. I had an auto pop hole thingy and one night found that 3 small young ladies hadn't got to the pop hole soon enough so they put themselves into a buddleia bush in their run. Easy enough to pick them off the branches and post them through the pop hole.
If any of yours are still out, once it is dark, they will be quite docile for picking up and popping in.

CP · Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 11:30 am Post subject:

That's great that they didn't need any help going to bed last night. Very Happy