New Member to Six

[6 and Counting]

Hello, all!! Glad to be able to join more enthusiasts.

I'm being gifted six ladies this weekend, including their coop and run. Bless my husband's heart, as he will be the chief (only?) dis-assembler and reassembler.

Any suggestions for a smooth transition? We will be transporting the girls in a large cardboard box with a blanket inside for comfort. They get to ride in the backseat of hubby's
crew cab. When we get home, he will work on the coop after first setting the run up. I will have a few hiding places for them to get acclimated rather than just turning them out. I REALLY don't want them to be stressed. Any ideas?

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC!!

SO HAPPY YOU'VE JOINED US!! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help! Good luck with your ladies! Of course, we all want our hens to be happy and stress free, but whenever there is a change, there is stress. But, there are some things you can do to help. First of all, while your husband is assembling the coop, keep the hens in a quiet, peaceful and cool area. Heat, loud noises, and chaotic places just will just stress them out more. If they will be free ranging, consider keeping them in the coop for at least a full day so they can learn that that is where they live, take refuge in and lay eggs. Also, make sure they have plenty of fresh food and water. Putting unpasteurized, organic apple cider vinegar in the water will boost the hen's health and immunity. (You don't want them getting sick during this time!) And of course, love on them, make them feel welcomed and don't be rough or noisy. You should put fake eggs and comfy bedding in the nests too, so they know where to lay their eggs.

Good luck and, again, welcome to the community!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/pictures-of-chicken-nesting-boxes-how-to-build-a-nest-box
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-keep-your-flock-happy
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/first-time-chicken-keep-questions-and-anwers
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...s-in-your-city-the-basics-of-raising-chickens
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/advice-for-first-time-chicken-owners

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Mountain Peeps gave you some really good advice and nice links to get your girls settled happily into their new home. You might want to put something like straw/shavings/shredded newspapers in the box instead of a blanket (or be prepared to throw away the blanket). How long is the trip going to be, and how long will it take to reassemble the coop and run? If the trip is only a few hours (or at night) they will be fine in the box in the dark, if the trip is going to be a long one you might consider getting something like a dog crate you can hang food and water bowls in for them, also makes it easier to keep them in for a day or two while reassembling the coop and run.

 

[6 and Counting]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Mountain Peeps gave you some really good advice and nice links to get your girls settled happily into their new home. You might want to put something like straw/shavings/shredded newspapers in the box instead of a blanket (or be prepared to throw away the blanket). How long is the trip going to be, and how long will it take to reassemble the coop and run? If the trip is only a few hours (or at night) they will be fine in the box in the dark, if the trip is going to be a long one you might consider getting something like a dog crate you can hang food and water bowls in for them, also makes it easier to keep them in for a day or two while reassembling the coop and run.

The trip is 45 minutes max. Never thought about using hay (duh). I think he can place and mount the coop within an hour. We planned on lifting it onto our trailer, with the help of four strapping young men!! I believe the most time spent will be on predator- proofing the run. We plan on doing the preliminary work- setting the foundation, etc- before we pick up the coop. Taking measurements tonight.

 

[6 and Counting]

Welcome to BYC!! SO HAPPY YOU'VE JOINED US!! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help! Good luck with your ladies! Of course, we all want our hens to be happy and stress free, but whenever there is a change, there is stress. But, there are some things you can do to help. First of all, while your husband is assembling the coop, keep the hens in a quiet, peaceful and cool area. Heat, loud noises, and chaotic places just will just stress them out more. If they will be free ranging, consider keeping them in the coop for at least a full day so they can learn that that is where they live, take refuge in and lay eggs. Also, make sure they have plenty of fresh food and water. Putting unpasteurized, organic apple cider vinegar in the water will boost the hen's health and immunity. (You don't want them getting sick during this time!) And of course, love on them, make them feel welcomed and don't be rough or noisy. You should put fake eggs and comfy bedding in the nests too, so they know where to lay their eggs. 

Good luck and, again, welcome to the community!  

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/pictures-of-chicken-nesting-boxes-how-to-build-a-nest-box
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-keep-your-flock-happy
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/first-time-chicken-keep-questions-and-anwers
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...s-in-your-city-the-basics-of-raising-chickens
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/advice-for-first-time-chicken-owners

Thanks for the tips! I just added ACV to my list. I'm very blessed, as these girls are coming from a very touchy-feely family. Our run area is already being laid out, so hopefully it goes well. Two are laying, as they are slightly older than the younguns. Should I expect them to stop laying because of the stress? I've already grown an herb garden, so I planned to place parsley in their boxes to stimulate laying.

 

[cuckoo4chickenz]

Parsly to stimulate laying ...never heard of this ...do tell more

 

[6 and Counting]

Parsly to stimulate laying ...never heard of this ...do tell more

Wish I could find the link where I read this. My niece swears by it in her coop, too.
I remember the parsley because I was thinking "that's what I can do with all of the excess!"
I've been growing so many herbs that I just googled herbs+ chickens and it was in there somewhere.

 

[6 and Counting]

Wish I could find the link where I read this. My niece swears by it in her coop, too.
I remember the parsley because I was thinking "that's what I can do with all of the excess!"
I've been growing so many herbs that I just googled herbs+ chickens and it was in there somewhere.

Found it!!
http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2012/07/benefits-of-herbs.html

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Thanks for the tips! I just added ACV to my list.

I'm very blessed, as these girls are coming from a very touchy-feely family. Our run area is already being laid out, so hopefully it goes well. Two are laying, as they are slightly older than the younguns. Should I expect them to stop laying because of the stress? I've already grown an herb garden, so I planned to place parsley in their boxes to stimulate laying.

Wish I could find the link where I read this. My niece swears by it in her coop, too.
I remember the parsley because I was thinking "that's what I can do with all of the excess!"

I've been growing so many herbs that I just googled herbs+ chickens and it was in there somewhere.

Yes, expect them to stop laying during this time. Glad I was helpful!

I use parsley too and it really is a laying stimulant. (I actually learned about it on that link you posted. I know Lisa Steele too!) Fennel, Marjoram, Nasturtium and Garlic are all laying stimulants too.
Here is another link about herbs...

http://www.homeontheroost.com/herbs-for-chickens/

 

[cuckoo4chickenz]

Thats really interesting!! Thanks for the link