[joe14]

Hi all
1st of all may I say this is a cracking forum. Tons of useful advice!!
I'm planning to get a couple of chickens next weekend and I plan to house them in an eglu to start with.
Anyway I plan to let them roam my garden when I'm at home. Is it best to let them out after a few days or is it best to let them get used to their new home 1st? Also how easy/hard is it to get them back in? :?

[Celtic Eagle]

Hiya

Don't know owt about chooks

Someone will be along who does


Welcome to the forum though

[compostqueen]

I only had mine for a few days but was told to keep them in the Eglu run for five days, to get them used to where they live so they can dash back in if they need to.  You can keep 3 hens in the Eglu or up to 5 bantams

It's been horrible weather since I got mine but after the first day when they didn't go out the Eglu much, they've been outside all day. The door is open so they can go back in but they seem to like it outside under the canopy.  They seem to like the Eglu and there's plenty room in it for the 3 of them

I got my chooks from the local farm and they're 19 weeks old, well 20 on Tuesday  

[Vember]

I put my new hens in the coop for the afternoon then teatime ish (5pm) let them into the run. they'll make they're way back in at bedtime. Then the next day they went free range with no probs that night straight in the coop. They now have a huge area to go at, free range but they're always back by 8pm.
 

If you have any difficult ones try tempting them with a bit of bread:)

Everyone has thier own routine and way

[Ruby Red]

They go to bed when it starts to get dusk. So if you want to just get them used to it first then let them out about 5 and by 730/800 they will start to go to bed on their own. Mine do anything for mealworms or muesli so if you need them in quicker (if you are going out) its useful to have them by you. Good luck.

[compostqueen]

Ooops it's gone 8.00!  Keep forgetting I now have chooks. Must go and get em in - in my dressing gown and slippers  :roll: