New to the chicken thing!

[Roxannemc]

My chicks when they go outside for the first time they wont go in the coop at dark unless they have been acclimated to it for a few days.Some ppl say a week .
.I never had acclimated any before and both groups for a few days i had to catch them and put them in or they would try to sleep on the ground even though they peeped and wanted in someplace
This time had to catch them 2 days Nwo it irained .2 days solid they have been in the coop .I let them in the run again thye are now are going in and out of the coop .
Will see if they go in on their own tonite
. The ladt group it took 4 days of catching them before they went in at dark,
Also treats.... i heard they go in for good treats if you let them free range..Got them use to me say ing "treatie treatie" and they would come running in the pen..Then i tried out roaming free a few evenings before bedtime. NO WAY.It was too much fun out of the pen to come for even a GOOD treat
A few did but a few rather eat the good things in the yard than come get a treat in the pen.
So doesnt always work.
Maybe i needed them out all day then they would have come but out an hour or 2 it didnt work.

 

[carlsaSC]

Currently have 3 out of my first 8 chickens laying. They have never been outside of their 10 x 12 run. Well, a couple have gotten out when the door was open for my access, but then all they want to do is get back in. Plus, the ones inside keep track of them and follow them around the perimeter of the run--it's cute. Anyway, my neighbor started out with 6 chickens and lost 5 to predation. So, I am not inclined to let them roam. They get plenty of grass clippings and kitchen waste. Poop is all contained inside the run. We are bordered by woods and near a lake, so there is plenty of wildlife.

 

[lorindaeb]

I'm looking out the window....I really should be doing homework, but the ladies are roaming all over the yard and a squirl has joined their quest. They don't seem to mind the squirl....but they didn't like the blue jay when he first showed up earlier in the day. It's pretty fun watching them hunt for bugs! Maybe I will have less ants running around on the back padio next summer!!