newbie question -what do you do when chickens never learned chicken behavior?

[Charjeanne]

My coop was finished and i was ready for my chickens. I didn't want to start with babies so I looked for some young hens. Found some Wheaten Marans that are 24 weeks. The place I got them from had over 50 roaming in a large chain link pen. No coop, no roosts. They all looked fat and healthy so I got my 6 girls and came home. That was 2:00 in the afternoon. I closed them in the coop with food and water and left them overnight so they would know where the roost was. They never used the roost, they huddled in a corner and that's the way they slept. Next morning I opened the door to the run and they wouldn't go out. I finally got them out but all they did was huddle next to each other. No pecking the ground, no scratching. I watched them that evening and they wouldn't go back in the coop. They slept on the ground. The next night I had to chase them down, catch and put them in the coop. We put each one up on the roost, by dark only one was still up there. I don't think these girls ever had a roost to use and all their food was in a container. I put corn out on the ground to get them scratching around and today a couple actually did peck a few times and scratched a bit. I got them 4 days/ 3 nights ago. How do I teach a chicken to act like a chicken? How much should I do and how much do I let them learn on their own? If I don't chase and catch them they will never go back up the ramp to the coop. I'm so confused and concerned that I could be doing everything wrong.

 

[sourland]

It will take time and patience, but they will eventually learn how to be chickens. You are doing all the right things. If the coop is large enough you may want to leave them just in the coop until they feel comfortable there.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It's only been 4 days. They should gradually learn to try new things/go to different spots/be chickens, but you need to give them time to take those steps. I'd lock them inside the coop for a few days for starters, assuming there's enough space in there, in order to home them to the coop. After that, open the door to the run, and let them decide when they want to come out. If they're scared, don't force them.

As far as roosting you can try teaching them to roost by manually placing them on the bars, but I wouldn't worry about that just yet. I'd want them to accept that the coop is home first.

 

[bluemtnwmn]

Poor things. I’m new to chickens but I’ve got a number of rescue pets. The main rule of rescue is it takes time, they’re in a new environment with new people, new rules, maybe different feed, the list is endless. It can take them weeks to become accustomed to things in their new home. It is also totally worth it when they come around!
As I’m writing, I’ve got one of my rescues in my lap. He came from a hoarder, sprayed and bit whenever I tried to pick him up, and had to have his own special crate for weeks because it was the only place he felt comfortable. I cried the first time he wagged his tail. He is a hoot that has a special dance for everything and follows me around the house like he’s my shadow.
They will learn, just be patient and gentle as much as you can.

 

[bluemtnwmn]

That sounds like a good start. I've read they LOVE mealworms, to the point that you shouldn't put a lot of the worms out for them to take as they please because it may cause a frenzy. I wonder if they'd go for those? I don't have any personal experience with that yet as mine are too little but I'm looking forward to it!

 

[aart]

It's only been 4 days.

Exactly.
Chickens will teach you patience...or not.

 

[Charjeanne]

Well it took me a long time to get them just to scratch at the ground but I put out some cracked corn to get them to do that and I've been feeding them the regular feed plus layer pellets. I tried a frozen corn on the cob hanging on a string they totally ignored it. I have put some herb plants around the run. They don't seem to be curious.

We started out with some health issues, coccidia, breathing problems, and now sour crop. Getting them healthy is what I'm working on now. And I've been going in and sitting quietly with them so they'll get used to me.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I put some mealworms out and they seemed to enjoy them. I'm seeing some progress. Today I sat out with them and had a couple come close enough to touch but of course they would have scattered if I had tried. One actually pecked my toe..Progress!

Here is what I've put in the run. Logs so they will jump up and get used to getting off the ground. I added an unbreakable mirror in front of the herbs. That seems to be a big hit with them. The ladder to the coop was so steep I couldn't get them to go up so I raised the end and added steps. They do go up on their own now. I have regular feed out all the time, and I put out 2 cups of add layer pellets twice a day (they eat that up real quick), I also have cracked corn and crushed egg shells on the ground. Any suggestions? Am I doing the feed right?

Good job on the ramp, looks much more usable now! ANd nice to hear that you're making progress with them coming closer to you.

For the feed, I keep a feeder available during the day at all times... some days they eat more, some days they eat less. Having a feeder is also better for me because it reduces the amount of pellets on the ground, which can attract rodents. Since you mentioned they're eating fast they might be needing more than you're feeding them. The corn is a treat and higher in fat, so don't overfeed it.

For the calcium component (I use oyster shell) I just keep a small dish filled and they take what they need from it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks, Should I stop the regular feed and give them layer pellets only?
I had oyster shells out, thinking grit, but read one of BYC's articles that said it wasn't grit. I wasn't thinking in terms of calcium, so I'll put it back out.

Oh I totally missed that you had two feeds. What is the "regular" feed in comparison to the layer?

Yes oyster shell is for calcium. Some folks use eggshell instead.

Grit for digestion is simply rocks, usually granite, due to the hardness and sharp edges.

 

[Charjeanne]

I know what you mean I was an animal rescue, mostly dogs and cats, for the last 20 years.

This is a bit different. I'm still trying to get their trust so they don't fly into the walls and injure themselves every time I make a movement.