Just got 3 chickens, now what?!

[WoodlandWoman]

If they're still alive and still not drinking, put a bowl or pan of water in the coop immediately. Also, a small amount of food. Change is very stressful for chickens. They are also usually afraid of new things, like objects or different looking food. The important thing is to keep them alive right now. They can learn to use the nipples for the water later. They can learn to enjoy the run later.

I hope they're doing okay.

 

[josephrose]

They're alive.

They'll drink out of a bowl of water, but won't touch the nipples. They also love to step right on the bowl, spilling out all of their water.

They also seem fine eating the pellets and grass, but won't touch strawberries, bananas, celery, or anything delicious.

And they love to poop in and try to sleep in/on the nest box. The roost bar is higher, but only slightly. I will try to raise it soon.

 

[Jeanna Marie]

You might close off the nest boxes until they are ready to lay else they will take to sleeping in there and you'll have poop covered eggs.

I am glad to hear that they re eating and drinking. Over time they should get used to the feeders and water nipples and you can remove the bowls

 

[josephrose]

I raised the roost today.

I just went over to check on them (around 10:20 PM), and rather than 2 of them in the nest box, now all 3 were in it. With some poop.

My nest box is a plastic container of some sort, so I took the lid to that container and covered the box. I guess I'll leave that on there until I see an egg somewhere one day? And then... hope that laying an egg magically changed their brains and tells them to not sleep or poop in the nest?

 

[Jeanna Marie]

You should be able to tell when they are preparing to lay. They make a distinct cackle/clucking sound and will sometimes practice squat. When they start laying you might wanna put a golf ball or something similar in the nest box so thwy learn where the eggs go...

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I'm glad they're doing fine. Maybe after they get used to their new home and aren't as afraid, they'll be brave enough to start trying new things. What a mess they're making in the mean time!

 

[blythspirit]

um chickens are very messy

 

[AussieHens96]

When we brought our four new babies home we just used something a little less complicated for water, for now anyway, so we know they had a good drink. Perhaps use something simpler while you try to teach them?