Is my pekin bantam male or female?

[Omletina Kyckling]

Hi all,

 

I'm after some advice please!

 

I'm getting a new cube in just under two weeks time.

 

At the moment I have three Omlet gingernuts who are established and get on really well, there has never been any pecking and they are all good friends.

 

Once the cube is here I plan to get 3-4 more girls (probably hybrids from Warwickshire Rare Breeds or Merrydale)

 

My main query is this :

 

Should I put the old girls into the Cube and put the new girls in the existing Eglu or

 

Should I put the new girls into the Cube and let the old girls stay in the Eglu?

 

The plan is to get them all into the Cube at some point and then sell the Eglu.

 

They free range all day in a fenced off area of the garden, quite a reasonable size. Should I let them all free range together straight away or should I keep one lot in the run to begin with?

 

Very complicated I know but I just don't know what to do for the best. My girls get on so well and I've never had any fighting or aggression so I don't want to upset things with the new girls!!

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Diane

[andrewandcarly]

hi

 

i will be in a similar position to you in a few weeks time. I currently have 6 and a cube on the way. I will be getting 4 more. I am going to let the 6 stay in the cube and keep the 4 separated for a few weeks living in the eglu but still able to see each other. I will then remove the fence separating them and let them all mingle and sleep where they choose!

[Gallina]

I would be inclined to put the new girls in the Cube.

 

Any bullying is going to emanate from the old girls, and it will be worse if their territory is being invaded. But if they are introduced to the Cube later, they will find it interesting and it will divert their attention from the occupants.

 

Be prepared for your little darlings to turn into vicious monsters when they see the new ones. The one at the bottom of the pecking order will probably be the worst, because she will see an opportunity of working their way up.

[StephanieSB]

I've not had personal experience with this, but I read this yesterday. It seems if you are getting a new hen house that none of the chickens have lived in, old or new, putting them all in the new house together breaks up the pecking order and everyone starts from scratch as a new flock.

 

I read it here:

Introducing new hens to a flock

 

More experience people can say if this really worked for them.

[Gallina]

Throwing them all in together might work if the young ones are old enough to cope. You don't say how old your new ones will be.

 

My little ones were still on chick crumbs when I got them, and I couldn't even let them out in the net pen with the big ones, because they got sat on so hard you couldn't even see they were there.

[Omletina Kyckling]

Throwing them all in together might work if the young ones are old enough to cope. You don't say how old your new ones will be.

 

I'm guessing that they will be at point of lay from what the web sites say so should be able to hold their own?

[Ange1]

Hi Dianne! Nice to meet another Northamptonian?! (sp) I'm near Brixworth, whereabout are you?!

 

If ever you need someone to look after them when you're away, you only need ask!

 

I am interested in this one too Dianne, as I have heard that keeping hens will be addictive (hence my choice of a cube, rather than an eglu - I KNEW I would eventually want more!)

 

Where is the Warwickshire Rare breeds place? I know Karen at Merrydale is not far, but haven't heard about the other place, anyway, goodluck!

[Ange1]

PS: I had a sneakt peek at your album, who's is the Landie - it's lovely

[Omletina Kyckling]

Hi Dianne! Nice to meet another Northamptonian?! (sp) I'm near Brixworth, whereabout are you?!

 

PS: I had a sneakt peek at your album, who's is the Landie - it's lovely

Hi,

I'm not far from Corby, so not far from you!!

 

I haven't been to either the Warwickshire Rare Breeds place or Merrydale, but have read good things about both on here. The WRB place is between Rugby and Coventry. I want a selection of hybrids and would love some columbines or equivalent in the hope of a green/blue egg - Merrydale is out of stock until further notice, so if WRB have them, I'll go there.

 

The Landy is my beloved Baby Landy - we go everywhere together, and he will like the fact you called him lovely - here's another picture of him on my website...please be warned though that this is my teddy bear's website and will confirm that I am totally bonkers!

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/tugalotandscruffbags/Stig%20main%20page/Stig%20index.html

Diane

[Ange1]

You and I would get on famously Dianne, so many things in common, hens, teddies and landies!!!

 

Stig is SO cute! I love the one of him driving the landie!

Certainly a beauty, your baby landie!

 

As you can from my little picture under my name I'm bonkers about bears too the photo is of Nanook my polar bear steiff!

 

Boyfriend and I spend most weekends in his '90' which we love too!

 

I don't have a photo of ours unfortunately (at work) but will see if I can dig one out! I bought a plate for it for Boyfriend's birthday last year DIG 3192!