Homing Free Rangers to Chickshaw

[MommaBison]

Hi all! I need some help/thoughts - we are currently homing our flock to their chickshaw, 47 younger chickens (14&15 weeks) and 13 full grown. Previously we were having to collect the 47 younger chickens from on top of our duck kennel and out of trees, each night. The 13 have been in the chickshaw for over a year, but locking everyone in was our only option it's been 10-11 days and it's been....fine......however feeding them has become exceedingly difficult, they managed to scratch out over 20 lbs of food (that we were able to salvage) the other day and have since been knocking over the 40lb feeder and causing general chaos. Since I cannot lift the lid on my own to right the feeder, it often leaves them without food until I can get help, late afternoon. Especially on days like today when my husband leaves extra early, they've knocked over the feeder, I can't right it on my own, so they haven't been fed. I'm very nervous of them starting to pick at each other.

I know technically you're supposed to lock in for 14 days, would it undo everything to let them out sooner? Or if you have suggestions for feeding?

Hubby is fencing (7ft tall) in a pasture for them too and it won't be done until the weekend.... He is nervous to let them out early and risk them roosting in trees again.

ETA: I already know they're eating any eggs that are being laid....which is also frustrating. However I'm not sure how many actually are being laid given that several are already molting. If you have any notes on that, I'd also appreciate it

(Note: if you are unfamiliar with a chickshaw, they have a hardware cloth floor, adding a level of difficulty.)

 

[nuthatched]

What type of feeder? Is it suspended or on something? Try putting it in a hog pan.

 

[Yardmom]

Different flocks take more or less time to home to the coop. If they are comfortable in the coop sometimes it only takes 2 or 3 days. If they are not comfortable, shutting them in might not encourage them to return. I usually figure a week is plenty when homing young birds to my coop

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I would let them out now. If you create a situation where they go periods of time without food and start bullying each other they are going to associate the coop with that. You want them to associate the coop with safety and a comfortable place to rest so they willingly want to go in.

 

[Mrs. K]

Could you post a picture?

 

[MommaBison]

I would let them out now. If you create a situation where they go periods of time without food and start bullying each other they are going to associate the coop with that. You want them to associate the coop with safety and a comfortable place to rest so they willingly want to go in.

Thank you, my husband and I are discussing this now. With the days getting shorter, he hasn't been able to work on the pasture, so that's been a challenge.

 

[MommaBison]

Different flocks take more or less time to home to the coop. If they are comfortable in the coop sometimes it only takes 2 or 3 days. If they are not comfortable, shutting them in might not encourage them to return. I usually figure a week is plenty when homing young birds to my coop

This is one of the things I have been concerned about. They've actually been quite good, so my "frequently" statement was a bit misleading, today and yesterday were the hard days, but they seemed to actually be really good to each other. They are fast and ate well. I surveyed them today when I got help to sort them out, there is No Evidence of picking, even on the lowest of the pecking order (a lone polish). We have rather docile birds (for the most part), the one Cockerel that was not a good fit has been kept out of the chickshaw all together and is forced to live with the ducks. As he was attacking my pullets, even in the dark.

Being that they had been free-ranging for so long, I think it's been extra tough. They miss their snacks and treats.

 

[MommaBison]

Could you post a picture?

I will grab one tomorrow!

 

[MommaBison]

What type of feeder? Is it suspended or on something? Try putting it in a hog pan.

It's not suspended, there's no way to do so.

 

[nuthatched]

It's not suspended, there's no way to do so.

What type of feeder is it?