Hello, after doing some research and talking with friends (who are now my mentors) about raising chickens for the eggs, took the plunge this spring and got six chickens, build the henhouse, everything. It has been incredible fun and rewarding in ways I did not anticipate. :/However, to the endless humor of my non-chicken owning friends, I have discovered that the baby chicks have had to be trained in: going into the henhouse at night (four nights of training), and perch sitting (one week and counting on that one). With some modifications (and a learning curve) on my part, we're getting there but it leads to a suggestion that I have not read here, and I'd like to know other opinions.
For all newbies in their first year -- How about getting an holder hen who is there in the coop when the babies are ready to go outside, one that knows the ropes and can show them the way, so to speak? In my area, there are lots of 4-H kids who have older hens that they will sell - I'm going to get one in the next week or two - for not much money. I think this would have solved many of my problems, and I should have thought of it earlier. My friends who have been doing this for years already have the older hens (and I think they have forgotten how it was with their first flock).
So, should this be added to the "Top 10 things to do when you get chickens" List?
For all newbies in their first year -- How about getting an holder hen who is there in the coop when the babies are ready to go outside, one that knows the ropes and can show them the way, so to speak? In my area, there are lots of 4-H kids who have older hens that they will sell - I'm going to get one in the next week or two - for not much money. I think this would have solved many of my problems, and I should have thought of it earlier. My friends who have been doing this for years already have the older hens (and I think they have forgotten how it was with their first flock).
So, should this be added to the "Top 10 things to do when you get chickens" List?
