HENthusiastic Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 HI. My walk in chicken coop is nearly completed. Iwill be getting my new girls in a couple of weeks. I'm planning to get two ex-battery girls and two light sussex. Any advice about how to integrate them all into their new home together please? Ive been reading the thread about introducing new birds, but will it be different because their new home will be new to all of them at the same time. Am I better off keeping them separate to start with? Would it be better to get the ex batts first and let them settle in and get their strength back before introducing others? Or do they do better with other hens to teach them how to be 'henlike'!! Any tips appreciated please. Ive never had hens before. This site is fab. I'm learning a lot from reading the posts. I'm going to post some pictures of my coop soon! THanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CockADoodleDoo Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 i would get them all at the same time so they are easier to introduce to eachother but u will need to seperate the ex batts for about 4 weeks before they are strong enough to get away if one of the sussex's has a go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 I would keep the ex-batts separate for a while, to build up their strength, and to be sure that they haven't got mites. If you can put them where they can see and hear each other it will help the subsequent introductions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Just a note here that you would need to adopt 3 ex batts. We only rehome hens in numbers of 3 or more and you will need to seperate them at first. BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted March 5, 2008 Author Share Posted March 5, 2008 Thanks very much. Sounds like I will have to do a bit of quick work, to separate the coop into two halves. I hadn't taken account of needing two hen houses either. I wonder if I could get a cheap rabbit hutch and convert it as its just going to be for a little while. I read somewhere else that somebody keeps their new girls apart during the day time, but lets them roost overnight in the same house. Would this work? If I put the Sussies in after the exbatts were settled for the night?? Buffie, I'm getting my ex-batts from a local source. I have friends who keep hens and regularly get ex-batts. They are getting me a couple. Is there a reason why you only rehome 3 or more? Is it better for them to be in bigger groups? Thanks for all your advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...