Any Chicken advice???????

[gemalina]

We're new to keeping chickens and got our first 3 on sunday (1 black peking bantum and 2 gold partridge peking bantums....)
They have a lovely large run and a lovely coop, but seem very reluctant to come out, unless we physically lift them out?????!!! They will then feed and root around for a couple of minutes then they just go straight back in their coop................
Someone said the run may be too big?????

Any tips, suggestions, general advice would be great please....

Thanks

Ours took a while to settle into their eglu and run and even longer before they would leave either to go out into the garden.

The run door was left open every day and closed at night, I think it took nearly two weeks before they were confident roaming around and not huddled around the eglu/run. I used to encourage them with scattered veggies and mash.

Give them time, this is totally normal. You will soon be asking us about how to stop them popping into the house through the cat flap.
You could always try hand feeding them some treats (just a few) like mealworms to tempt them further up.

Or standing on the porch and staring through the windows.

It takes them a while to get the hang of the ramp and their new environment. Problem solving is not a particularly good chicken skill. Also, it's easier to go up than down for a pekin. Have you checked that the angle of the ramp isn't too steep? They have short legs so struggle with steep inclines.

I was always told to keep them in their run for 3 or 4 days after picking them up anyway. This is to let them get used to their new environment and to learn where they nest/roost and so that they know where to go when it is dusk.

I would just leave them for a while to get used to their new surroundings, as the others said, you'll soon ne asking how to stop them eating all your plants/grass and coming into the house and scaring the livings daylights out of you when you look up from the washing up to find one of them, head cocked, watching!

Definately leave them shut inside with food and water for a few days. this way they know this is there home and where they have to go to at night. they are probably a bit stressed being carried out and in so lock them up for the next 2 days then open the door but don't expect them out on their own accord for a couple of days and expect to have to put them to bed for a few nights.

Not a chicken keeper, but i read in my local paper a tip from a farmer re chickens and foxes. Get some cut human hair from hairdressers, stuff into stocking and hang in with your birds.

By all accounts foxes think there is a human about and don't come near, you need to change hair every so often as smell "wears" off.

Good luck.