New hens

[StevenY123]

Hi all,
Please see our new set up for our three hens. We’ve only had them two days but once they feel like home they’ll be allowed to roam our large garden for a few hours every day too.
Still trying to get them to adjust to the new surroundings. They seem happy enough having a look around and pecking away. Just need to get them in the direction of the nesting box. They seem to be looking around for somewhere.
So, photos attached. One shows the ramp/ladder. They are happy coming down it in the morning for breakfast but not quite mastered going up to the nesting box yet. The other photos are just to give a better idea of our arrangements.

 

[DobieLover]

Hi all,
Please see our new set up for our three hens. We’ve only had them two days but once they feel like home they’ll be allowed to roam our large garden for a few hours every day too.
Still trying to get them to adjust to the new surroundings. They seem happy enough having a look around and pecking away. Just need to get them in the direction of the nesting box. They seem to be looking around for somewhere.
So, photos attached. One shows the ramp/ladder. They are happy coming down it in the morning for breakfast but not quite mastered going up to the nesting box yet. The other photos are just to give a better idea of our arrangements.

If you've only had them two days, they are not going to lay yet. Whenever a chicken experiences a high level of stress, they stop laying. Being moved to a new home is a high level of stress.
Once things settle down for them, they will start laying again and will likely use the nesting area of the pre-fab coop.
What kind of predators do you have where you are?
Where are you located in the world, in general? You can update your profile with that information so it posts with all your replies and threads. Location can help.
What I do see is a run that is far too small for three birds. I know you intend to let them out, but there will be many times when you can't. Like when you get a hawk strike or a fox finds you and you need to secure the birds.
Is that arrangement temporary until you decide if chicken keeping is the thing for you?
The chicken wire will do little other than to keep the chickens in. It won't keep anything out that is determined to get to the chickens so you will want to close them up in the "coop" behind the 1/2" hardware cloth at night.

 

[StevenY123]

Hi again. Thanks for all the advice.
It’s not chicken wire, we have weld mesh on it. We were advised this is a lot tougher and very rigid, it was really difficult cutting it and attaching to everything. They go into the smaller coop for bed time which again increases their security.
In terms of size, we will be extending more of a “run” to it in the coming days.

in terms of letting them roam about, between my wife and I we work at home 3/4 days a week, once they are settled we’d love to let them have the walk of the garden But just worry they might find a possible exit. We’d always be there but turn your back for a second and things change.
Any advice on that would be grand.

we live in scotland, we stay in the outskirts of a town near fields and water but not “rural “ etc. I’ve never seen a fox here yet but no doubt they’ll be around. There are farms near to us so might be up that area.

thank you

 

[DobieLover]

Hi again. Thanks for all the advice.
It’s not chicken wire, we have weld mesh on it. We were advised this is a lot tougher and very rigid, it was really difficult cutting it and attaching to everything. They go into the smaller coop for bed time which again increases their security.
In terms of size, we will be extending more of a “run” to it in the coming days.

in terms of letting them roam about, between my wife and I we work at home 3/4 days a week, once they are settled we’d love to let them have the walk of the garden But just worry they might find a possible exit. We’d always be there but turn your back for a second and things change.
Any advice on that would be grand.

we live in scotland, we stay in the outskirts of a town near fields and water but not “rural “ etc. I’ve never seen a fox here yet but no doubt they’ll be around. There are farms near to us so might be up that area.

thank you

I've never seen a fox here either but I KNOW they are around! I haven't seen the black bear either but I saw her foot prints near the back of my garage.
The openings in that wire are large enough to permit entrance for a stoat. And I'm sure a fox could get its teeth anchored in it and pull it off. Just saying. It's not predator proof.
Chickens do not fly well. But they can jump up pretty high. What they like to do is jump up to a solid surface then fly/jump to the other side. If you can prevent them jumping up to a solid surface or going under a fence, you can contain them in your yard.

 

[aart]

we have weld mesh on it.

This was added after the pics were taken?

Might want to think about this excellent modification to that kind of coop:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-in-nest-boxes.1134399/page-2#post-17749535