[Elvira]

Well done Nerdle!  They sound lovely.  Looking forward to seeing the photos when you catch them! 

[nerdle]

Well - back earlier than planned and mealworms were greedlily snatched from my hand so huge improvement.  Tomorrow a mealworm trail will lead them out into the garden I hope

[ANHBUC]

Be careful if they won't let you handle them you might find they take flight and escape.  Speaking from experience with turkey poults, it is a nightmare finding a retrieving them.   

My 2 new girls are still in their own run and I have had them 19 days.  I would hate to let them out and lose them.  When I do let them out I will do it near their bed time and have some meal worms handy to entice them back to bed.

[nerdle]

Thank you.  They happily followed the mealworm trail out this am (my small garden is foxproof) and are now eating corn out of my hand. I think they know where their bedroom is and I've got my eye on them.  How I'll teach them to use the treadle feeder I don't know!

It has occurred to me that I have been too hasty and these will never be really tame.  My last two were on my lap all the time so I'm surprised.  8 week chicks would have been better really.  I can always sell them at next month's market - lets see.

Forgot to thank you Splash for your guidance - it was all good advice.

[nerdle]

No names yet...

[ANHBUC]

The are beautiful nerdle, are they LF or bantams?

I would give them some time to get used to you, it is really early days.  I have young birds that run a mile so it isn't always to do with age.  Try not giving them any treats until bed time just in case they don't want to go to bed.   

[splash101]

Wow, they are stunning.

I wouldnt give up just yet, i've had chickens that wouldnt even eat out of my hand.

They are lovely looking though.

[Willow_Warren]

They are beautiful - a lovely choice

I'm sure with patience they will tame just keep perserveering (had my cat 4 years before she'd sit on anyone's lap - ok she's a cat not a chicken, I'm sure it won't take as long!)

Hannah

[helens-hens]

Really lovely hens, nerdle. I am no expert but they look a couple of weeks away from POL, still quite young.

My Welsummer now about 7 months old is still very nervous of me but I am hoping that now with the weather improving, I can spend a bit more time in the garden and get her a bit tamer.

Allow yourself plenty of time if you are putting them back in their run if you are going out. Mine seem to know when I am in a rush (they must spot me glaring at my watch) and will go anywhere bar where they are supposed to! I find it best to put the treats in the run and then quietly let them find their own way in.

Has any sort of pecking order been established yet?

[nerdle]

Hello again
They came from the same seller (quite by chance)! so they know each other and they roam as a pair. I think the cream one is in charge as I saw her peck the other one once but they are best friends otherwise. Four eggs so far - three pointy an done roundish so both laying I think.  Will there combs get bigger and redder?

Huge step forward today.  Wonder if I could still get an 8 week chick - would they accept one more and would it be vulnerable to bullying?

My entire garden (farmyard more like) is the run so I can let them roam when I go out

[splash101]

I dont think wyandotte's have a big pointy sticky up comb, my daughter says their comb looks like a squashed brain instead.
Dont know about the other breed.

[pepsi100]

Nice looking birds and rewarding you with eggs already 

Mine dont feed from my hand, but run to the back door when ever they see me 

[ANHBUC]

As splash says the Wyandotte don't have a big comb (think it is called a pea comb) but it will get redder. 

If you are getting younger pullets I would advise at least 2 or you may have problems when introducing to the others.   

[nerdle]

Just had a chat with local breeder and he agrees that its best to raise chicks if I want tame girls.  It's lap hens I want really ....so..........I've reserved two cages for the next sale (£3.20).  If we have a good month and I want to keep them I'll alert the auctioneers and let the cage space go to other sellers.

I just didn't think of it and I've learned a lesson.  No real harm done I hope.

[pepsi100]

Never heard of lap hens, I just thought that when they were chicks you just handled them a lot, hand feed them, a few treats, thats all my grand daughter did