North Carolina

[ramirezframing]

mornin' fellow north carolinians! my new babies, (3 5 month old pullets), have been in their new coop for 3 days now. they are very skiddish, and afraid of me, which i guess is to be expected. i would like them to spend time in their run, so that i can sit with them and feed them treats. while one of them popped out into the run the second day, the others hadn't yet so i caught them one by one (traumatic i'm sure) and placed them outside. they loved it. scratched and explored. but then, 30 minutes later, they filed back into the coop. should i just be patient? is there a trick to get them to go outside? should i catch them again and put them out? should i strew some treats in their run? if so, what? i already put cabbage leaves out, some pieces of apple, and threw some feed out there. also, what grocery store foods will they love to eat from my hand? unsalted sunflower seeds maybe? and i have read earth worms are a no no? sorry so many questions, new mom here

(and i'm sure there will be plenty more thank you!

If earth worms were a no no, ALL my birds would be dead! My kids love catching bugs and feeding them to the chickens, and its good protein for the chickens. Just give the ladies some time, they'll come out on their own.

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Oh, I'm loving the warm days! Got a lot of work done yesterday on the fence (after I got home from work!), and got one trio moved in to one side of the new chicken house. I want eggs from just them for a couple weeks before I bring in the rest of the group. Today is my long day at work, so doubt I'll get much done this evening. (Except for grading. My non-majors have an exam today, poor things! But that means I only had to lecture for my majors, which is good today. I feel like I'm coming down with a cold, and talking a lot is not fun.) But we have one more stretch of fence to put up and then I can move birds into the other side of that chicken house. Within the week, I'll have all the breeds in new quarters. The girls have been separated from the guys for almost two months now, so they are happy to get back together!

Tomorrow is lockdown for lots of Buff Orpingtons and Easter Eggers! Can't wait for the hatch! I had to delay this spring to get my NPIP done, so this is my first hatch of the year! 10 dozen eggs. I might have gone a bit overboard.....

Hope everyone has a great day!

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

mornin' fellow north carolinians! my new babies, (3 5 month old pullets), have been in their new coop for 3 days now. they are very skiddish, and afraid of me, which i guess is to be expected. i would like them to spend time in their run, so that i can sit with them and feed them treats. while one of them popped out into the run the second day, the others hadn't yet so i caught them one by one (traumatic i'm sure) and placed them outside. they loved it. scratched and explored. but then, 30 minutes later, they filed back into the coop. should i just be patient? is there a trick to get them to go outside? should i catch them again and put them out? should i strew some treats in their run? if so, what? i already put cabbage leaves out, some pieces of apple, and threw some feed out there. also, what grocery store foods will they love to eat from my hand? unsalted sunflower seeds maybe? and i have read earth worms are a no no? sorry so many questions, new mom here

(and i'm sure there will be plenty more thank you!

Earthworms are an intermediate host for a parasite, as are grasshoppers. I'd let them eat them, and worm your birds regularly. The alternative is to keep them in tight lockdown, never getting outside where they might get a bug.

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

Have had the same experience with trying to dress to be both in side and outside! I'm cold natured so I erred on the side of warm clothes! Decided to have t-shirt/sweatshirt!!!! The dirtiest thing I'm going today is to change all the bedding for the chicks! And that's done.. Have fun in the sunshine..be glad when it warms the air a little.. I'm going to sit on the deck a little bit and get some Vit.D !! AND I'M EXTREMELY HAPPY TO HAVE A WARMER DAY!

I'd LOVE to be home sitting on a deck or working in the garden,
playing with the critters BUT I'm still a working girl SO I have to
dress for work and weather.......not always an easy thing to do.

And yes......I'm loving the warm day.

 

[cwhittington]

Oh, Chrsty.....LOL....you are in for a tot of great facts and education as well as great friends.......AND.......you are going to find out how terrible we are with CHICKEN MATH !!! To say we are a bad influence is going to be an understatement ! We all are at least a little bit crazy and like you we love all animals. Some have enough space to take on more animals but some like me, have a DH who is not a chicken man but does't want to share those 2 acres with some other critters! LOL.... got a city boy here! I want just one miniture donkey to help with the grass mowing!!

My ex-DH wasn't a chicken fan either. I still have the chickens

Thanks for the warm welcomes, I appreciate it!!

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Quote:

 

[Banriona]

My ex-DH wasn't a chicken fan either. I still have the chickens

Thanks for the warm welcomes, I appreciate it!!

 

[lilmagill]

I just kept MTT door open and slowly mine started coming out one by one

i have been closing my little door to the run at night bc it's been so cold. plus it just makes me feel better. should i maybe leave it open at night now? will that make a difference you think?

 

[JadedPhoenix]

i have been closing my little door to the run at night bc it's been so cold. plus it just makes me feel better. should i maybe leave it open at night now? will that make a difference you think?

If you leave the door open, you have to know that you are leaving yourself open to night time predators. I've always left mine open but they are in "Fort Knox". Even then, I know that I'm playing a dangerous game. It is just more convenient for me since I am at work before they start going to roost for the night and I'm home long after they come out in the morning since I work nights.

 

[lilmagill]

it's really funny, for the last 2 nights when we've gone out to close the door they have been out in the run. they won't go out in the day, but are going out at night. i can't figure that out.