Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: yorky on April 08, 2008, 09:26

Title: How to get them out
Post by: yorky on April 08, 2008, 09:26
Got six point of lay on Sunday. They are in a 6’x3’ house with a 20’x6’ run. Half of the run has a Corolux roof. The feeders and drinkers are in the covered part of the run. So far they haven’t set foot out of the house. I have put some food and water inside for them, but wonder if this is just encouraging them to stay inside. Would it be cruel to take this food away so that they go find the feeder full of pellets at the other side of the pophole?
Brian
Title: How to get them out
Post by: Zak the Rabbit on April 08, 2008, 10:10
try covering the corolux section with something dark, it could be that its so light inside they dont want to come out?

Mine have their pellets and one drinker inside at all times, with treats, ie corn and green veg, outside and another drinker. They never had a problem coming out, in fact its sometimes hard to get them back in!
Title: How to get them out
Post by: yorky on April 08, 2008, 12:40
Thanks for the reply Zak. The house is fairly dark as the roof is usb board with corolux on top of that. It’s part of the run that is just covered with Corolux. I haven’t a clue how to post a picture but the house is a homemade replica of this one, plus an extra 20’ run. http://www.gcraft.co.uk/displayproduct_poultry_units.php?id=410  
Brian
Title: How to get them out
Post by: compostqueen on April 08, 2008, 13:44
lovely. I'd not want to come out either  :lol:
Title: How to get them out
Post by: Zak the Rabbit on April 08, 2008, 14:10
oh, right! so, there in the nice dark house, but dont want to come out into the run? either the covered part or not?

i cant think that having food inside is whats keeping them in, after all they are pretty inquisitive animals (i have a heck of a job going in my run because they make a break for it, i spend ages chucking them back in!)

Did they come from somewhere where they were inside anyway? mine were shed reared, so they hadnt seen daylight until i got them.

It does sometimes take them a while to realise they can go places, try physically  (but gently!) putting one of them through the pop-hole out into the run, once she knows she can go out there she should be happy with it, and the others will follow her wanting to know where she has gone
Title: How to get them out
Post by: Zak the Rabbit on April 08, 2008, 14:12
blimey! just taken a look at that link! £688! not surprised you made a homebrew copy! :lol:
Title: How to get them out
Post by: Foxy on April 08, 2008, 17:58
Or just open the nestbox and shout "wheres the Paxo!" :lol:  :lol:
Title: How to get them out
Post by: yorky on April 08, 2008, 21:33
Problem over, five of them came out for a wander this afternoon. They must have read Foxy’s answere.  :D
Brian
Title: How to get them out
Post by: Zak the Rabbit on April 08, 2008, 21:41
see, they were just getting used to their new home :D

there nosey *, so it was probably too tempting not to come out and look around :lol: