my new chickens still in bed!

[crisgal]

we got our 2 gorgeous girls yesterday. They took themselves off to bed at 8 o'clock and still there! They haven't come out for food or water. I have had a peek and they're awake and let me stroke them.
Should I just get them up? I don't think they know where their food and drink is yet.
i would appreciate any advice.

[josaphine32]

They are most probably just scared, with New smells, Noises, They will come out when they get hungry, I was told to stay well away from ours when i got them as they hate beeing spyed on, i would waite till this evening just before its getting dusk and not talk to them but gently nudge them into the run and come away,
( they are in a secure run with coop?),

good luck

[wildwood]

Place a saucer near to the food and gently tap with a pencil or nail, imitating the noise made by a clucky hen to encourage her brood to eat. The water ofcourse, should be in a jar lid, once they walk through that they'll notice and drink.

Once they are eating don't forget to sprinkle a little bit of small grit on the floor so they can eat them to digest the seeds. In the wild, chicks eat mostly insect.

[wolf63]

wildwood - why a jar lid?

crisgal - I hope that the girls settle down soon and are happy in their new home.

[wildwood]

It doesn't have to be a jar lid per-se. Just a low container so the chicks can walk through it and feel that it is water.

[crisgal]

they are very happy girls and stayed out till dusk - (once they'd had their lie in!)
They have a special feeder and water tub, and they seem to have already learnt where that is.

Thanks guys.

They still haven't got any names though :(

[tastymorsel]

That is such a cute story

[Nosha123]

aah lovely - are they rescue chickens?
A friend got three from a rescue place - called them Roast, Chicken and Dinner...
They layed loads of eggs - but sadly must have got eaten by foxes when out roaming the garden... so they are now building a larger 'run' and fencing it all in so the chickens cant wander so far!