Janty Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 Sporty and Lauren have decided that they are going to assert their authority on the new hens. So much so that I have given them time out in the fruit cage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 Inevitable for a few days I'm afraid. Things will calm down in time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 Oh no things will improve over the next few days. Perhaps they could sleep together for a couple of nights before being out all together? Then they may accept each other Unless they draw blood or stop the others feeding and drinking, they will take a few days to establish who is in charge It's horrible to see though isn't it karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 Oh dear Janty, sorry to hear this. I did that with mine, kept them together but gave them time out if things got a bit much, then tried again next day (or a few hours later). They soon get it out of their system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 30, 2007 Author Share Posted December 30, 2007 Sporty and Scary have finally settled down and they are eating with the new brahmas quite calmly. Sporty, after a morning of shouting has given the ex-batts a lesson in scratching and is quite happy. Lauren is still having battles with the brahmas but she will come out on top...she always does. Only the mini brahma is interested in taking her on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 30, 2007 Author Share Posted December 30, 2007 Sporty and Scary have finally settled down and they are eating with the new brahmas quite calmly. Sporty, after a morning of shouting has given the ex-batts a lesson in scratching and is quite happy. Lauren is still having battles with the brahmas but she will come out on top...she always does. Only the mini brahma is interested in taking her on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 Bet you'll be sat watching them all day! Fascinating aren't they! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 30, 2007 Author Share Posted December 30, 2007 I have spent most of the day in the garden apart from when I have been trying to get some food and water into Ivy (she is very poorly). The mini brahma is hilarious...she has taken on everything today. The cochins don't know what's hit them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 Sounds like a feisty little madam! Obviously no one has told her that she's a miniature! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 poor little Ivy, hope she picks up soon xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 30, 2007 Author Share Posted December 30, 2007 Sadly, Ivy died not so long ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 So sorry. (((Hugs)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 I am following your posts with great interest Janty, as I booked two new girls yesterday which should be ready for collection in about a fortnight. Must confess I'm terrified of the introduction process, never having done it before! Still, it does seem that they all settle down together eventually. From your experience, I think I'd better cancel everything else for a week after they arrive! All tips gratefully accepted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 30, 2007 Author Share Posted December 30, 2007 The ex-batts have spent their firstday in the fruit cage today. I kept taking the other chickens down to the 'growing area' of the garden so that they could see each other through the mesh and my original girls could give the ex-batts a lesson in scratching, etc. Seemed to work. I found an egg underneath the raspberry canes in the fruit cage so the batts have obviously been adventuring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 oh that's sad, poor little girl battery farms! xxxxxxxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 30, 2007 Author Share Posted December 30, 2007 She kept fighting right to the end...she was a plucky hen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 I am following your posts with great interest Janty, as I booked two new girls yesterday which should be ready for collection in about a fortnight. Must confess I'm terrified of the introduction process, never having done it before! Still, it does seem that they all settle down together eventually. From your experience, I think I'd better cancel everything else for a week after they arrive! All tips gratefully accepted. best thing is to write all your questions down and either e-mail your BHWT co-ordinator or post them in here. I must have been so lucky with my 4 as, although they pretty bedraggled, they all settled in well and seem very happy and healthy. Just in case you get a poorly one, have somewhere ready to isolate her and have rescue remedy on hand. Don't forget they've probably only ever been fed layers mash so have some of that ready. The BHWT has some good advice and I can e-mail you a fact sheet on basic ex batt care, if you PM your mail address. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 She kept fighting right to the end...she was a plucky hen. (((((hugs))))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 30, 2007 Author Share Posted December 30, 2007 I got lots of help and advice from bhwt before I got the girls. Buy in some rescue remedy as Poet suggested...it really perked poor Bauble up last night when she was a bit off colour. We have been trying Ivy with it all day but sadly, the whole experience was just too much for her to cope with. Another tip which I have discovered...you can buy the verm-x wormer in a liquid form in a pump dispenser. This has been brilliant for worming the ex-batts as I can't give them the pellet form of verm-x on the layers mash as I do with the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 30, 2007 Author Share Posted December 30, 2007 The other thing to buy is arnica for their bruises. I have been rubbing it into poor Baubles red bits today. That felt very wierd as her poor skin just felt and looked like a chicken that was prepared for the oven. It was a strange feeling that was not pleasant. She enjoyed snuggles in my fluffy jumper though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 She enjoyed snuggles in my fluffy jumper though. Aaaw, how sweet . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 30, 2007 Author Share Posted December 30, 2007 I am going to have a lie in tomorrow. Can't face Sporty attempting to wake the neighbours again with her shouting. I am not going to let them out to commence battle until 7.30. Watch this space... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 31, 2007 Author Share Posted December 31, 2007 It's 8am and the chickens are confined to the cube run. Sporty is shouting and one of the new brahmas has ventured down. A few scuffles but she is now eating with the others. The bantams are roaming the garden on their own, white happy with the attention that they are getting from the girls next door. The ex-batts are eating and drinking and eating and drinking. I am going to give them an hour or so and then put them into the fruit cage to free range. It's safe and secure in there...even Sporty and Ginger couldn't dig their way in yesterday despite their very best efforts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
