Bringing home new hens

[AshRosc]

Please keep us posted on how it goes.

Day one went perefectly. I expected to have problems and I’m surprised I didn’t. The chickens explored a bit but stayed relatively close to their coop. They spent a lot of time under my camper and went in and out of a few of my outbuildings. It was actually really fun to watch. I didn’t let my dog get very close to them, just in case he tried to chase one off. But then my husband insisted we just let him check them out to see how we reacts. He rounded them up until they went back into the coop!! I’m not sure if this is normal or some stroke of weird luck. What do you think?

 

[Bamas-Chicks]

Mines a American Standard and lab mix and she heards them gently,she never bothers them just watches them do what chickens do. When I say it's time to put the birds up she starts hearding them towards the pen. The only way I think she knows how to do it is by watching me the first few weeks we had them. Not to brag but she is the most brillain't dog I've ever owned. Her only limitations is me.

 

[Celticdragonfly]

We don’t actually have a run. The farm here is really old (the house was built in 1900 and my guess is most of the outbuildings were built then too) there’s a chicken coop but there was no run built with it. I just figured since it worked for the previous owners it would work for us too but I’m second guessing that now.

Back then, every flock would have had at least one rooster, to protect and call the alarm.

And the nearby hawks and foxes and such, back when there was more undeveloped land left wild, had lots more options for their dinners.

 

[AshRosc]

I kept my hens in for 3 days when I first got them, you obviously know why, but if not it is to let them know where home and safety is plus where to sleep lol.
The first day of letting them free range I had to chase them in the coop, but I should have waited because the next day I left it a bit late and they had gone in themselves and they have ever since.

That’s reassuring to know they went back inside on their own after keeping them confined for 3 days! I’m so nervous we’re going to have to chase them around lol the baby rooster got out yesterday and the dog chased him and we looked ridiculous trying to catch him and get him back to the coop lol

 

[Col1948]

Some people entice them back in by giving them a treat, I never had to do that but it can work.
On a side issue about giving treats, when they see me they come running thinking I have something nice for them, sometimes I have sometimes not but they still come running lol.

You may see them hesitate a bit, but once one goes in the others will slowly follow, sometimes one will come out but they get the idea very soon.

 

[MNchickaroo]

Our run wasn't finished at the same time as our coop (trust me, when they say make sure everything is ready for the chickens, make sure, as they grow way faster than you think they will!). But we wanted them to start acclimating to the outside, so we put up a little piece of 4' high fencing in a big circle and used a plastic tote to transfer them. It lets them be outside, and lets you have something to coral them in if your afraid of having to chase them (they'd give linebackers a run for their money!) and offers a little protection. Warning...at age 6 weeks, some of our birds were able to flap themselves over the fence (unplanned, those birds weren't aiming just thrilled with open spaces!)
At night we'd gather them up (I know what you mean by looking comical, thankfully we have lots of acres and trees so there aren't any witnesses!), and into the coop. It is a bit of work, but gives them some outdoor experience and makes it easier when they have the fence walls to corral them.
Good luck and enjoy those birds!

 

[AshRosc]

Some people entice them back in by giving them a treat, I never had to do that but it can work.
On a side issue about giving treats, when they see me they come running thinking I have something nice for them, sometimes I have sometimes not but they still come running lol.

You may see them hesitate a bit, but once one goes in the others will slowly follow, sometimes one will come out but they get the idea very soon.

Hopefully it all goes well! I’m thinking I will let them out of the coop some on Friday or Saturday. Thanks for the tips! I think I’ll be making another trip to tractor supply for some treats before then lol

 

[Col1948]

Don't overdo it with treats by the way, a few now and again is fine.
If they are jumping high and even flying you could clip the wings, there is a thread on here somewhere about that plus a few YouTube videos on how to do it.
Don't worry it doesn't hurt the chickens, it's like cutting your nails, but best watch the videos first because you can cut the wrong part of the wings if you don't know.

 

[AshRosc]

Yikes. Hopefully I don’t have to do that anytime soon. Tomorrow is their big day to be outside. I went in there around 730 last night and they were all up on the roosting bar. Fingers crossed they do the same thing on their own tomorrow evening!

 

[AshRosc]

Thanks for the advice! I was thinking about easing them into being outside instead of just letting them go. I also have to start training my dog to leave them alone, he typically roams free all day. They have quite a few places they could take cover from a hawk, I am definitely a little nervous about them.