New hen trying to roost in apple tree!

[VirginVegGrower]

By the way - no longer using chicken stock - nor chicken in cooking. Have decided it's a fowl idea

[kathyd]

Ouch VVG - if you carry on with those awful chicken jokes, we'll have to chuck something at you...

[VirginVegGrower]

Hi VVG - wine? cheese? gossip?? sounds fab! are you serious? where abouts are you? south derbyshire doesn't sound very close to central brittany

Re-putting her in the coop first - we now have 2 of them, and they're both beginning to integrate themselves much better. I chose a nice calm one, and she's also more confident (and slightly larger) than her sister, and won't be messed around as much. So although she runs off when chased, she just turns round and comes right back again, which is just how it should be . I've managed to capture them both for the past 2 nights before they've made it into the trees - first night they were sat on the nesting box and jumped off and ran over to me. I tried pushing them up the little ramp but Bossy Boots and bro were guarding the entrance and I had to pop them in the side door again instead. Last night I did manage to get to them a few minutes earlier and encourage them to go up the ramp on their own, and be the first in. I checked later and everyone was cuddled up together in the corner with big Dotty hen (the maran) in the middle gurgling away to them, and the smaller newbie with her head all buried amongst someone's feathers - couldn't even see her at first she was so well hidden! Most of them don't seem to use the perches, they sit on the floor or use the nest box - I'm sure I should discourage this but I can't see the point, and they all seem happy so... So you're right, first in is the way forward when we can manage it. Newbies are happily roaming the run this morning, running off when chased but not so far, and they bounce back. We're now working on trying to get them all to eat together, but this is harder cos newbies flee when someone runs over to their bit of grain - but we're getting there!

I had this feeding issue too - just doubled my feeders and drinkers.

[VirginVegGrower]

Ouch VVG - if you carry on with those awful chicken jokes, we'll have to chuck something at you...

I merely joined in
Need some humour - its been a dour three weeks here

[Glutton4...]

I had this feeding issue too - just doubled my feeders and drinkers.

Having several feeders and drinkers is essential, in my view, to the well-being of the Flock. With my very first Chooks, who were ex-Batties (BLIMEY that was three years ago! ), I had a couple who were chased off the feeders and whenever I watched, they seemed to be going without. So, I bought another feeder.

Now, I have two big 'hopper' feeders, that take a whole sack of feed, and still find that the youngsters and underlings go without. They would be busy eating late in the evening, after the auto-door had closed. I got fed up with having to go out and put them to bed after dark. Now, I make sure I go in twice a day and throw a load around where they're scratching about, so they all get enough. What they leave the Geese get.

[kathyd]

Hmmm, tried doubling the food and drink, but the oldies just chase them away from all of it. However, the newbies are making a stand now, and I've seen them sneaking nibbles from the big pot of pellets when the others aren't watching. And we have both of us dishing out bedtime grain to make sure everyone gets some. They do seem to be working things out slowly for themselves .