new chickens

[adi]

after months of preperation, mainly me not getting round to finishing the hen house, we got our three isa browns last night. my little girl has already decided she wants to be a farmer. lets see how long that lasts!
they are obviously a little wary of their new environment and had to be put into their house last night. this morning i opened the hatch and just left them to come out in their own time. What is the best way of getting them to go into their house on their own at night as i don't really want to be chasing them around? and living in a rural area there will be a fox along at some point so i need them secured at a certain time.

[hiver]

Hi, I'm only a novice hen keeper but I have found they put themselves to bed at dusk. But if we need to put them to bed early and approach with arms spread wide we can guide them in without any trouble.

[thebdj]

Nice easy way to do this as long as you aren't letting your three hens roam in a massive acreage! Just keep your eye on the girls as dusk settles in and watch where they naturally roost. Wait until it becomes almost totally dark and then go outside and get them! They will be so docile at this point that they will gladly let you pick them up.

Pick all 3 of them up and put them to bed manually. You may find that the next evening they just go to roost somewhere different again. Once again, wait until nightime and put them to bed manually again. After a few days they will learn and put themselves to bed where you have been manually placing them.

Simples!

Justin

[teammellis65]

I did what Justin has suggested. It took 2 nights and now they all put themselves to bed. I have 4 ex battery hens.......clever girls!