poachedegg Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Sorry to ask a similar question.....but you are all so clever (creep creep!) At the moment we have 3 chickens in an Eglu and will be soon getting a Cube - if the Cube is new territory to BOTH sets of chickens, will this make integrating easier? For instance - if we brought home 2 or 3 new chickens, let them all free range together and then put them all in the Cube (which would be the first time for all of them) - would this work? Hope I make sense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieSB Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 I'm new to poultry keeping, so you'll get first hand info from others here. But according to this article I read, you are right -- putting old and new hens into a totally new home for them all should wipe out old pecking orders and establish a new flock: http://www.poultryhelp.com/introbird.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Good article. I have used method 3 several times now and it works well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Good article. I've done the "cage within the run " thing when I intro'd the bantams and it worked well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 I asked this question the other week and am still unsure what to do, and a bit worried by it! I have three girls in an Eglu like you, and my Cube comes on Monday. Today I bought three new girls who are in a borrowed Eglu, out of sight of the other girls. When the cube comes on Monday I could put the new girls in there, in the fenced off area and keep the old girls in the Eglu in the same area. The old girls would be free ranging all around the new girls so would get to see them but not touch them. After a week or so, I could open up the Cube run door so they could integrate. OR I could bite the bullet and put all six in the Cube on Monday. Help! Diane x What's best? Any thoughts?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 The old girls would be free ranging all around the new girls so would get to see them but not touch them. They will square up to them and try to get at them through the bars in my experience. Whichever way you do it, there is bound to be a period of squabbling. Why not put the two Eglus where they can see and smell each other and share treats along the perimeter till Monday, then let them freerange together on Mon, and then bung them all into the cube on Mon evening. No-one will have the home advantage that way. Good luck, whichever plan of action you decide to take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
