It's been an exciting week here at Struan Farm. On Tuesday I travelled south to Inglewood and picked up our six new laying "Hy Line" hens, transporting them back to Piopio and the new chicken coop.
The breeder had them packed in boxes, along with a sack of mash, which he popped into the back of my car:
Surprisingly, it was a very quiet trip home. I'd expected more clucks than happened. Perhaps they were happy with my driving? Upon returning home to Struan Farm John helped me carry the boxes into the chicken coop, where we let them out. Food and water were ready, nesting boxes have fresh wood shavings.
The next morning we found one egg on the floor, then another. One has been popped into a nesting box to encourage them to use the boxes, we'll see how that goes.
They are meant to stay in the coop for the first week to learn that this is "home." On the seventh day (rather biblical, eh?) they are let out briefly in the late afternoon to have a wee stroll around their paddock before being put back inside for the evening. At the same time we are working to teach them how to use the "self-feeding" feeder, step by step.
We're all learning as we go.
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