Chickens@61 Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 well, our three new ex batts have had a lovely day: eating, dust bathing, really settled with our two pekins - you would think they have been together forever.. they each laid an egg, so the children are thrilled. tonight though, the two pekins went to bed so we went down and put the new girls in and shut the hatch (its a 6x4 timber playhouse). the new girls went CRAZY !! screeching, flapping, crashing into the walls etc. the poor pekins were terrified. the ex batts just seemed totally panicked about being shut in - maybe because of their miserable previous life? the mayhem went on for about 10 minutes, they are now quieter - but still making quite a bit of noise.. any advice? they went to bed fine last night and were quiet as mice! is it just something they need to get over and they will get into their new routine of being shut in at night then let out in the morning? (please say yes). it was awful to listen to, the poor things any help gratefully received! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckmomma Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 Well I'm not a chicken keeper proper yet myself But going by what others have said on here before, one question I would ask is did you check the coop when you put them in? I have read on here of rats etc being in the coop, that would likely upset them. Maybe the pekins already being in there first may not have taken too kindly to the new arrivals and had a go. My Indian runner was enjoying being an only child till the rabbits and goslings arrived. She craftily pretended to accept them but took a good lunge at them when she thought no one was looking Boy did she get a surprise when the fluffy bunny turned and chased her round the sitting room and out into the kitchen, then sat guarding the door preventing her from coming back in She legged it pretty quick when the goslings hissed at her too Some one is bound to be along soon with some good advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickens@61 Posted May 4, 2008 Author Share Posted May 4, 2008 i am positive nothing 'untoward' was in the hen house.. and the two pekins were up on their roosting bars whilst the chaos was ensuing below them so they have an alibi everything is quiet now, half of me wants to open the door and have a look inside - but i don't want to risk setting them off again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckmomma Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 Ohhh Temptation I have never been one to resist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickens@61 Posted May 4, 2008 Author Share Posted May 4, 2008 have just done a final 'before bed tour' and all seems peaceful.. i am setting my alarm for 6am so that i can do an early check just in case! i must be mad, it is bank holiday monday after all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 Since it seems peaceful now, chickens@61, the chances are that they will get a good night's sleep. Since you plan on getting up early, hopw you get a good night's sleep as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickens@61 Posted May 5, 2008 Author Share Posted May 5, 2008 well they are all still alive and well, and have approximately the same number of feathers that they went to bed with as far as i can tell.. any tips to make tonight's bedtime less traumatic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 Play them some classical music? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickens@61 Posted May 5, 2008 Author Share Posted May 5, 2008 slightly less fuss tonight, still had to physically put them in the house and that involved some squarking but once in they settled down more or less straight away OH put a new roosting bar in, at a lower height and at the other end to where the pekins roost to see if that helped.. fingers crossed that they will soon settle into their new lives! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayflower Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 I've read somewhere that roosting bars should all be at the same height. I think it's something to do with the pecking order. Maybe do some research before you install them at a lower height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickens@61 Posted May 5, 2008 Author Share Posted May 5, 2008 really?? i HATE this chicken keeping business.. just when you think you have got it right, it turns out you have got it wrong!! oh well, what doesn't kill us will make us stronger and all that! off to research the roosting heights of chickens now (sad/anorak emoticon) xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 They do reckon it is better to have all roosting bars at the same height as they will automatically all try and roost on the highest one (and top chicken will roost on the highest one) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickens@61 Posted May 6, 2008 Author Share Posted May 6, 2008 well, tonight i left it until dark.. two of the three ex batts put themselves to bed, and number three was quickly caught (minor squarking!) and popped inside to join them without any fuss however, today the three new girls have plucked up the confidence to start bullying the pekins - so onto the next problem thank you for all the advice, x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
