Grow Your Own Magazine

after 8 months of promising the kids we'd get chooks at lottie(we had to give away our 3 bantams when we had to move house)2moro is the day!all happened alittle quicker than we were prepared 4,basically told this arvo it was 2moro or end of july!but 2hours at lottie adding finishing touches later we ready,children were angels & busied themselves while we banged a few nails & swept a few cobwebs,all still a surprise for them in a.m! 1 question if any1 out there at this hour;we've been advised to keep them in the coop 4 2 days b4 letting them out in the run,does this sound right?what have others on here done?

No!!! As long as the hens have a run or small enclosure, you can let them out straight away, because they will be near the henhouse which will be their home. But do'nt free range them for at least 5 days. This is because it takes hens that long to realise that the henhouse is their home. If they free range too soon, they will not home in at dusk. But if you have a run, they can be let out immediately. Once hens know where their home is, they will make their own way back to the henhouse at dusk.

cheers!was rather concerned about keeping them "cooped"up 4 so long!to be honest the 20mins in cardboard boxes is doing my head in a bit,but i know theyll thank us in the end;up til now they not seen sunshine!(&by the looks of weather forecast may well have a few more days 2 wait1

Good luck with your chooks. Are they ex-batts? If so, that might be why it is recommended to keep them indoors - they have never seen outdoors and can be quite fazed by all the changes.

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

they're home! packed the kiddies in the car (skipping brekkie!why do they always choose the most inconvenient a.m's 2 sleep in?!)&off we went on our surprise journey,needless 2 say they were thrilled,up until we got to farm they had no idea!daisy spent the day desperate 4 cuddles;tough describing to a nearly 6yr old they will love her eventually-just need a bit of time-sent her to neighbours plot where they quite used to & seem 2 love their cuddles!kept door 2 coop open & eventually all but 1 braved the big wide world,so far so good;at present lots of overgrowth to explore(wonder how long that'll last?most were very good going to bed & the reluctant few Daisy proffessionally managed to pick up(she got her cuddles after all!)&pop 2 bed.all worth while wen she looked at us arms up 4 hug & thanked us 4 the best surprise ever!keep you posted with progress&no doubt will be picking your brains 4 help in days 2 come!cheers 4 advice so far.

Wonderful! Kids can give the best moments!

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The weeks and the years are fine. It's the days I can't cope with!

wow!?can you think of a better day 2 going from being confined to a warm snug barn to having the freedom to sing in the rain!

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the fates lead him who will;him who won't they drag.

Happiness is not having what you want,but wanting what you have.xx