[keith123]

I'll am about to introduce 4 x nine week old pullets which are currently kept in a very large cage (with perches) indoors and would be grateful for any advice on the best method to introduce them to their new outdoor chicken coop, such that it causes the minimum amount of distress. Particular questions that I have regarding their welfare are:

My preference is for their food, grit and water to be kept 24/7 in their run (under a shelter) which I feel is more hygienic - should they have food / water inside their coop ?

To encourage the chickens to use their perches should I block off access to the next box until around the time that they start laying (18 weeks or so)?

I'll be letting them out of their  run to free range periodically when I am working in the garden - should I let them familiarise themselves with their new coop / run before letting them free to roam?

At what age should I clip their wing?

I understand that I should worm the chickens periodically - from what age do you normally start and is there any other routine treatment / medication / supplements that I should be giving them.


Any advice will be gratefully received.

Thanks

[rcf100]

Hi, I'm only a newbie myself, but I'll help where I can.  I have 3 17 week old ladies who arrived with me last week.

The general advice seems to be keep the ladies in their coop for 24 hours before letting them out into the run, however I didn't read this until I had them, I popped them in their run and they were very happy and took themselves off to bed about 9pm.

Food and water shouldn't be necessary inside the coop unless you're keeping them in for a particular reason, and be prepared to need to have more than one feed/water station if any bullying begins.  I have min in the run under the roofed section, but I lift out each night to discourage vermin coming into the coop.  I do have mesh al the way round but it isn't currently buried.

My ladies I don't think were taught to perch before they arrived with me and all three sleep in the nest box.  From my experience I would have closed it off if I'd realised, and I'm busy chasing them out of it now, but judging from the amount of poo in there in a morning they are going back in.  I will block off for a fortnight until mine are on the verge of laying.

They like to be near shelter - fence/hedge/tree etc as they are originally jungle creatures, so I would wait until they are settled before free ranging.  I have had mine 9 days now and they're desperate to be out, I would say only a few days in their run would be necessary.

Depending on your fencing, I'd consider clipping wings now, mine are in a 6ft roofed run so not necessary, but they were straight onto the top of the nest box and then roof of coop, withing an hour of them arriving.

To worm or not to worm is a chicken keeper's quandry.  I will not be routinely worming mine.  If I were then my breeder said at 6 months as they had already been worm tested and clear.  As mine are enclosed, so no free ranging, no wild bird visitors etc then the risk is minimal.  There is a section on this forum for this topic that I found a good read and helpful in my decision.

Other things to look out for are various different mites and lice, again a good section on here about it, I'll look for a link for you.

Make sure you have a vet, not all vets will treat poultry apparently, I'm lucky as our local vet does everything for the farmers, for pets and for the local wildlife centre!

Have a look at maybe adding some apple cider vinegar to their water too as a supplement, it was something I looked into and decided I couldn't see a reason why I wouldn't.  Can't do this with a galv drinker though

HTH and happy chickening

[rcf100]

worms link

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=4348.0

[rcf100]

mites/lice link

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=5250.0