I'm a novice, my chicken story - any recommendations appreciated!

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AbiTilly

AbiTilly

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Hello fellow chicken keepers!

I have never owned chickens myself, however, grown up with them as my mum always has!

I've rescued two chickens, to cut a long story short they were shut out to be left for the foxes (group of 20+), and of course I took pitty! The fox unfortunately had some before I had the chance to rescue them. Mum took 4, a friend has 6 and I have the last 2.

They are 2 1/2 years old and apparently not as useful with laying at that age but I'm not bothered about this!

So... I purchased a coop on Gumtree, they are in my back garden and seem content enough. I will definitely sit out with them daily in the garden so they can roam free and are not permanently stay in the coop.

Unfortunately I have a cat (who thinks she's a great hunter and has already been eyeing them up) and neighbors have a dog so I would not feel comfortable letting them roam in the garden without me there.. I hope this isn't too unfair for them to stay in the coop? I will let them out every day after work.

They only came home last night, I was pleased to see they were in their nesting box's overnight. The coop also has perches for them and they can go in and out as they please but I did shut the door to the hutch overnight just to be safe.

Was hoping for any advice/recommendations. I have been calling them by names when feeding to try to get them used to me. Feeding the layers pellets and corn - what treats do they best enjoy and should I limit the number I give them?

They are obviously quite nervous after a rough few days. How long should I keep them in for before I open the coop to let them out and feel comfortable knowing they will go back in?

Any other good help/recommendations would be appreciated!

They are great - in love with them already! Named them Hetty & Betty :)

Thanks everyone!
 
First off I want to say good for you for taking these two little rascals in! The things some people do to animals really confuses me and makes me angry!!! They are beautiful girls as well. I would of rescued them myself haha! Since they did have a rough couple of days they probably are a little stressed, just so they get comfortable I would leave them in their coop area for like 24-48 hours for them to calm down. And letting them out in the evening for a little while I'm sure they would enjoy! My chickens free range a couple of hours a day too, and like clockwork they know what time they are suppose to be out. Chickens aren't necessarily picky animals-if you provide enough room, feed, water, shelter and some TLC they are content! If you really want them to warm up to you, try and feed them cooked noodles (they can be warm or cold) my chickens go CRAZY over them. Watermelon, cucumbers, bread, all of that good stuff, they will settle in just fine. Since they both used the nesting boxes they seem to be getting aquantied okay. Layer pellets and corn are just fine! I think you are doing a great job, keep it up and goodluck with your new gals!
 
Thank you so much :)
Will definitely try the cooked noodles, would love them to warm to me!
With yours and having their free range time, do they happily go back inside the coop? I am worried they will run away when I try to get them back in!
Thanks again!
 
AbiTilly said:
Thank you so much :)
Will definitely try the cooked noodles, would love them to warm to me!
With yours and having their free range time, do they happily go back inside the coop? I am worried they will run away when I try to get them back in!
Thanks again!
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Once they're familiar with their coop they will come back to it. Chickens are great about putting themselves to bed. The only thing is sometimes you might want them to go in before they are ready to. You can train them to come to either a call or sound (for example shaking treats in a can) and then tossing the treats in and they will run in after.
It seems the light affects when the birds are ready for bed. Right now, depending on the weather, mine head in between 7:45 and 8:30, the earlier times if it's rainy or stormy. You'll be surprised at how much chickens can learn.
 
After they have been shut up in the coop for a couple days or so, they will imprint on it as their home. They should return at dusk to put themselves to bed, if no predator has taken an interest in them. You mentioned they sleep in their nest boxes so they probably poo in there also. Not good, you don't want poopy eggs. Unless they are currently laying - you should close off the nest boxes until they start laying eggs. They need to sleep on roost bars higher up off the floor like a proper chicken.

Do you know if they are young enough to still be laying eggs? I'm thinking maybe they are too old and that is why they were dumped out. Too many treats and they will turn up their beaks at proper nutritionally balanced feed., just like kids preferring candy to healthy foods. Generally extras/treats should make up no one than 10% of their daily ration

I would guess their previous owner didn't treat them the best, you may have to treat later on for worms /mites or lice. You will see them thrive under your care. Thank you for giving them a home.
 
Thank you! I will use the treat in a can trick!!
The hutch has high roost bars for them but there isn't a 'shut off' to the nesting boxes.. I will try and block these off somehow!
I've been told they are 2 1/2, apparently they still lay but not as regular as younger chickens?! There were no eggs when I left for work this morning but I will see when I get home!
If they aren't laying are they OK to sleep in the nesting boxes?
I have also just got some grit which I read on another post is a must for them!
Should they have access to pellets/corn at all times or should this be fed in portions?! They love their food but I don't want to overfeed them!
Thanks everyone and sorry if these seem like silly questions - I just want to get it right for them!
 
I use treats to herd them into their coop if they free range, it works like a charm! My chicks are 18 weeks old my hens haven't started laying yet (I am waiting with anticipation
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) but in their coop I didn't close up their nesting boxes ( I only have 2) and mine don't even lay in them a lot, they prefer the roosting bars. You would be surprised how smart chickens are! I think its OK for them to sleep in the boxes especially if they aren't really laying a lot of eggs. Grit is very good for them they need grit to help them process and grind up their food for healthy digestion so grit is a must! When they free range they will get grit from the dirt as well so I only provide it in my coop area when they are closed in. I have 2.0 gallon automatic feeder and 2.0 automatic waterer. I also have large bowels placed in sections of my yard for them ( and my dogs) when they free range. They will go back in their coop area to eat, they come and go as they please. But at night mine are closed in. I don't have their feed and water inside the coop at night where they sleep, but it's in their run area, they can go back and forth down their ramp to their run as they please at night (but I never seen they eat or drink at night ). In the morning I hear my rooster at 5:30 am, when I go outside to let them out, my whole flock is in their run waiting for me to open the door. So they will eat and drink as needed, no need for portions. NO question is a silly question. There is so much to know about these little feathered dinosaurs its crazy and I love learning about them!
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Aww that's exciting! Hopefully you won't be waiting much longer now!
They have a nesting box each, they were on the perch when I looked through the little window so hopefully they will use them lots! I'll keep an eye on things and see how clean they stay and go from there!
I have bought an automatic waterer, perhaps I will get an automatic feeder too!
Do you have wire underneath your pen where they stay overnight? I was worried about any pests digging through to them but I didn't want it to hurt their feet being on the wire a lot?!
I love them already! I am definitely a transformed crazy-chicken-lady
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