Roxanne Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 How long should one wait to mix the two sets of hens? My Omlet girls are real heavyweights and squaring up to the ex batts already and one is puffing out her feathers - all through the bars that separate them! I don't want to do it too early (it's only a week so far) - I think the exbatts need to put on some weight and become more at home, although they do not seem to be afraid of the Omlets and are very interested in them. They can see eachother through the fencing and occasionally peck at one another and we have had one noisey incident (that I know of - there have probably been more but I am not there all the time... just every hour or so!) Any advice??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 You are right with regards to the ex-batt girls needing to put on more weight and feather up a little - personally i wouldnt mix them for a while yet. I only have ex-batt girls however when i rescue more girls they stay apart for at least 4 weeks. Your ex-batts may not be scared of the Omlet girls but if you mix them now they will probably be picked on quite a bit as they are in a much weaker state. When you do mix the groups it is probably advisable for damage limitation purposes to have anti-peck rings or bumper bits, anti-peck spray and wound powder at the ready just in case. (Can you tell i was a girl guide?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 I would keep them where they can see and hear each other for a few weeks if possible....they will soon be taking no notice. Then, when you feel that the ex-batts are robust enough, you could try moving things around so that they are just separated by two rows of netting. Try sprinkling treats between the rows, so that they share them ( With you supervising....broom at the ready! ). When they are used to doing this and seem calm about it, remove one of the rows of netting....after a week of this, still sharing treats, steel yourself, when you have some time to spare and remove the last bit of netting, scatter some treats and see how they get on. I took this approach when merging two flocks. It worked very well and there were only a handful of skirmishes. They all jumble in to any old Eglu at night now and get on well. I shall do the same again when my ex-batts are here. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonie Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 I've just done it! I got my ex batts about a month ago and let them free range pretty much straight away, my new girls were in too bad shape and could certainly hold their own with the omlet girls. They all pecked a little bit but no fighting at all. Phylis my omlet girl hurt her leg but this wasn't anything to do with the batts as i initially thought and so she lived in our spare room for a week until she was ok to go back in with the omlet girls. I then decided they could all live together in the cube!!! It was fine, the batts managed the ladder, bar Doris the biggest and stongest ring leader!! She has to be placed in to bed at night! Doris and Peg have established themselves as the top of the pecking order, ousting the omlet girls out of their warm snug laying area .... bless they are now on the roosting bars with the little bald ex batt Margot. I did check on them every 10 mins and also sent the hub out every now and then to make sure Doris was behaving herself in there too!! So touch wood ...happy families!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxanne Posted March 23, 2008 Author Share Posted March 23, 2008 Great info - thanks - I thought it would be about a month (seems to be the concensus) and the 'common ground + treats' idea sounds brilliant. I will put a broom in the run to be ready !! It is always nice to read how other do things - and them you can take advice from everyone and adapt it to your situation. Thanks guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...