4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[skye]

Our two new chickens are starting to settle in with the two older girls - there is still a bit of bullying going on but it is minimal as long as they are free-ranging.

 

The trouble is, the two old girls are not allowing the two newbies in the eglu with them at night, and the two newbies seem to prefer to sleep outside in the run, either on the 'verandah' outside or on a perch. The run is completely fox-proof so at least they are safe, but surely they should be starting to integrate now? For the past few nights, we have lifted them into the eglu after dark (to nasty pecks from the existing occupants) and hoped they would get into the habit - but again tonight they STILL haven't gone in there of their own accord.

 

Now Lily, the Amber Star at the bottom of the pecking order, and the one still receiving the most bullying, has been a little under the weather today, runny poos and looking very down in the dumps - I think she should be cosied up in the eglu with the others for warmth and security. Yet both newbies are huddled on the verandah outside the eglu.

 

I'm torn between a) continuing to physically put them in the eglu each night - to almost certain pecking (both at first, and in the morning when they all wake up) - and b) just letting them be, assuming they will go and sleep in the eglu when they want to or are allowed by the others - after all it is not cold at night at the moment and they are safe from predators in the run.

 

What would you guys do?

 

Thanks in advance

Skye

[Egluntyne]

Whilst the weather is warm it won't harm thm to sleep outside as long as you are happy that there isn't a threat from foxes.

 

Eventually they will begin to get on with eachother. How old are your new girls?

 

There are some articles about managing intros **here**.

 

It would probably be best if toy could get some separate overnight accommodation for the new girls until they are all more used to each other.

 

If the new girls are younger than 22 weeks or so, the older ones will pick on them I'm afraid.

[skye]

Thanks Egluntine for the supportive advice.

 

One is 24 weeks and the other only 17 weeks, so the breeder told us... however they both have big combs and wattles and are both laying daily... the mystery deepens!

 

We do have a big crate that we can convert into temporary separate sleeping quarters just in case, but i've tried to avoid providing the newbies with it in the hope that they would integrate quicker in one eglu.

 

Do you think this would be a better solution until they get used to each other?

 

Thanks

Skye