[Blobbs]

Hi All.
Well I am actually nearly there. Hen house bought. Wonderful large run divided into 3 so that I can rotate and hopfully non of it turn bald. Bought fenceposts and wire etc from a gamekeeper so it's all good sturdy stuff. Buried the wire in a trench and have an electric fence aroud the perimeter at 1ft and at the top. Bought the treadle feeder and a huge drinker so I am prepared ( and broke ) I think.

Just when I thought I'd researched everything OH asked what to do to make transition easy. I haven't a clue !! You have all been so helpful so I knew who to run to to ask the question.

We are collecting them on Monday and they are POL hybrids from a commercial egg farmer friend. They arrived at the farm last week, all 25 thousand of them! I am having just 8 lucky ones.
Am really eggcited now !! 

[joyfull]

sturdy cardboard boxes to collect them in will be fine (make sure you put ventilation holes in them) 

[GrannieAnnie]

Try to collect them as late as possible, and is it possible to put them straight in their coop overnight?  That will give them a little chance to get used to their new house, and hopefully they will go  in their Tuesday night on their own.

Some people say keep them in their coop for several days or a week, but that isn't always possible.  Don't worry if their feeder or drinker doesn't fit in there.  they will be okay overnight, as they will have eaten before you collect them on Monday.

Good luck with your new family!

[Blobbs]

Thankyou for the advice. I'm fetching them around midday tomorrow so I'll just have to try to herd them into to coop in the evening. Hope no-one is watching cos I think I might look a bit daft!
I will report back tomorrow evening or Tuessday.
Wish me luck!

[grinling]

Wait and see if they go into the coop themselves.

[Blobbs]

Shall I try to coax them to follow me with some grain or do you think they won't understand as they are commercial chicks ?

[tosca100]

Our three took themselves off to bed when it was time, first night. Now they need a little encouragement (tiny amount of mealworm/grain mix) as we go to bed at 9 to be up at 3.30 ish.

Enjoy your hens, they are charming.

[Blobbs]

Ohgodogod!!
 Well they were  terrified when we brought them home. Scared of their own shaddows

Then tonight we thought  it was time to bring them in. 3 were on top of the coop , 4 were in bed and one had escaped completely and was hiding under a hedge. How daft are they ?
 Well they are in bed now and sorting out who is in charge and I guess they only met as a group today. BUT OH insists that they can't fly.

Hmm. We'll see.

[joyfull]

chickens can fly very well - ask some of mine who used to roost over 20 feet high in the cherry trees 

[Blobbs]

None have flown today as yet. Yesterday they were sort os running and jumping. They are still daft today and are huddled under the coop unless I go in the run. Then the come to say hello and mooch a bit. The farmer had kept them in for over a week to train them where to lay so perhaps they've never been outside? They are only 16 weeks old wth pale small combs.  No eggs yet but the farm ones were producing very few and they were tiny.

[joyfull]

the pale combs is the give-away - they are not ready to lay. Their combs will turn bright red and they may even curtsey when you go near them (this is because they see you as the cockerel and they are getting in the mating position  ).

[Blobbs]

Heavens, I shan't let OH read the last post !!!   

[symonep]

I had to clip my little ones wings yesterday due to their flying!!
now they cant fly as well but they still have springy legs 

Glad they are settling in well

[Blobbs]

 No flying today but daft as ever. All huddled under the coop for most of the day then tonight 5 in bed and 3 out. 2 more went in later then |I had to chase number 8 to put her to bed.
When I did that found that they were all huddled in the 2 nest boxes and no-one roosting. Will they learn the right bevaviour or will they remain silly ?

[Blobbs]

I read about clipping today in a book so if they continue to fly I wil do that.