Locking Bar Eglu Classic

[LJ's Chooks]

even introducing older ones can be tricky... please be careful. I have bumper bits on all of mine now... though i'm noticing a bit of feather tugging starting again.... just before i leave them for a few days to fend alone and keep them in the cube run... I dont think I'm going to relax and will have to phone my neighbour every day.

 

I pray they are gpomg to be ok... they are not used to being inside much!

[xsoggyx]

Just to give an update the breeder had to kill the one which was badly attacked.

 

I have already given back the other 2 and requested I collect them again in around weeks when they will be about 21 weeks old and ready to lay in addition to requesting another hen of the same.

 

I am am a bit dissapointed as I said all along the new chooks are a 1/3 of the size of the current two but ho hum you were all right.

 

I think there should be more of a strong advice link on the main omlet page so others can be warned,

 

With my job and lifestyle I have to be strong but this did hurt

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear about it.

 

At least you have guidelines for next time. Good luck.

[superjules]

Gosh xsoggyx, I'm so sorry to hear it.

 

I hope you are ok.

 

Fingers crossed the introductions go better once they are bigger.

[alih]

really sorry to hear about your poor chicken - I have just got some youngish ones and having read this post plan to do it all much more slowly than I originally had, but what a terrible experience for you...

[Gallina]

If it's any comfort to you, I think your experience will have made a lot of people on this forum aware of how dangerous it is to introduce very young hens to older ones.

 

I don't think this point has been emphasized enough until now. Everyone urges people. "Get more chickens, you won't regret it", but fails to add that it is a risky business if you don't have alternative accommodation. Some people are lucky; but those who aren't have a rotten time if they only have the one hen house.

[The Dogmother]

Most forum members do encourage each other to get more chooks - they rightly like to see others enjoying something that has brought them joy.

 

We have a prominent sticky in the FAQ section regarding introducing new chickens to an existing flock and there have been various threads over time where similar situations have cropped up and we have urged caution. Personally, I think that common sense would dictate that introducing youngsters to older animals is not a good idea - this applies to any animals.

 

The information is there for all to read and take on.

[superjules]

I agree with Gallina, if you haven't got temporary alternative accommodation available, it sounds like it can be a truly horrific experience and maybe that point is not stressed enough on the forum. I think the problem is, that for everyone who says it was a nightmare introducing new birds, there's always someone else who comes along and says it all went swimmingly. It does mention on the stickies that new birds new to be kept separate and Egluntine has sensibly suggested that they shouldn't be mixed before the age of 22 weeks.

[The Dogmother]

I agree with Gallina, if you haven't got temporary alternative accommodation available, it sounds like it can be a truly horrific experience and maybe that point is not stressed enough on the forum. I think the problem is, that for everyone who says it was a nightmare introducing new birds, there's always someone else who comes along and says it all went swimmingly. It does mention on the stickies that new birds new to be kept separate and Egluntine has sensibly suggested that they shouldn't be mixed before the age of 22 weeks.

 

Thanks Jules. The wisdom to be gleaned here is that if you don't have alternative accommodation, and are not prepared, then listen to our Prudence and don't do it.

 

The subject crops up often on the forum and other chickeny sites; a quick scan of any of these will highlight the potential pitfalls.

[superjules]

The wisdom to be gleaned here is that if you don't have alternative accommodation, and are not prepared, then listen to our Prudence and don't do it.

 

I totally agree. We all know how tempting new chooks are but in the words of the boy scout motto "Be prepared!" Murphy's law says that if you haven't got alternative accommodation arranged, you're going to need it.

[The Dogmother]

Fail to prepare; prepare to fail is one I use a lot.

[Gallina]

I know that the information is available on the forum -- but people are inclined to read only what they want to read, and the message is always "Go for it".

 

I think all of us (including me) must try to mention whenever we heartily recommend more hens that introducing little ones can be more than difficult: it can be dangerous and heartbreaking.

[superjules]

Digressing slightly, the other thing that's not mentioned often when it comes to introducing more chooks is a quarantine period. People just seem to chuck them all in together without waiting to see if new birds are properly healthy, parasite-free, etc. I know if I introduced a chook with a not-yet-apparent, contagious respiratory illness, for example, it could cost me a lot of money and potential heartache.

[The Dogmother]

It's one thing that I always mention Jules, but as Gallina has said - people only see what they want to see.

[Egluntyne]

Exactly so.

 

They see conflicting info too and think might they prefer a particular option....which seems to offer a quicker solution and is tempting, whilst slowly and steady is usually more sensible.

 

I feel that new hen keepers can't go wrong if they take their advice from any of the articles that have been "stickified", as they have been scrutinised before receiving "Sticky" status, have been well researched and are likely to be based on sound experience.

[Christian]

Sorry to hear about your chicken xsoggyx. That must be awful for you.

 

Hopefully all the troubles will settle down when the chickens are older.

 

 

Can I just make a point in general?

 

Whenever I want to do something that I haven't done before, I research it thoroughly. Some would say to the point of obsession.

 

Be it a new car, household appliances, chickens or whatever, I read as much as I can and ask others for advice.

 

This is not a dig at you xsoggyx, but feel that it is not up to the forum to give people the go ahead to get a few chickens and 'bung' them in with others.

 

There are so many topics on here about introducing new chickens to an existing flock. Omlet sell chickens as part of a package. if you want to introduce more, why should they or the forum be held accountable?

 

Just my opinion.

[chelsea]

so sorry to hear about the chicken that didnt make it xsoggyx

 

I do think the breeder has to pay some responsibility for this episode TBH . xsoggyx did mention when she purchased her other hens that she had older ones.

 

I think breeders should be giving advice and not just telling people to bung them in with the existing hens. If the breeder advised correctly then poor xsoggyx and her hens wouldnt have gone through this upsetting time.

 

The breeders take our money so some knowledge should be given, this is a forum with peoples experiences and not everyone's is the same.

[Cooks]

it is a very upsetting thing for soggy to have gone through I agree.

 

I recently was in a dilema myself, and as Claret will know (bless her) I went back and forth over it, deciding whether I should or I should not get an additional bird which had been offerred to me. (this was before 100% deciding to totally wait until I HAD to add another 2)

I weighed up everything, asked all the advice I needed and read all the stickies and just realised I didn't feel confident enough to even try to tackle an introduction albeit a slow one, I just didn't in feel right about it in my stomach.

 

I do feel totally sorry for soggy, the breeder has given some very misleading and wrong information. But we all make our own choices, and that is why the forum has all the stickies, which people have written at great length for our use and people on here to ask questions etc so we can learn and educate ourselves about what is right and wrong for our hens.

 

I just hope because of this others will learn and not put young birds at risk.

[superjules]

I agree Loopyloo, the breeder gave xsoggyx some very bad advice, based on what has happened since. Blaming the chickens and saying they're unsociable is just plain ridiculous. Unfortunately, it seems some breeders are less scrupulous than others and will say what it takes to get a sale.

[MedusA]

So sorry to hear that the chicken had to be destroyed, xsoggyx. Poor thing.

 

It just goes to show that thorough research and good advice really are necessary. Introducing new chickens is never easy, but with the right steps, can be relatively straightforward. The sticky is really helpful. I have to say, from experience, the second time was a lot easier for me because I had prepared better. Good luck!

[Kairen]

Hi, I agree with all thats been said. We have introduced new chickens to older hens and hve separated them for weeks before introdusing them to the older ones. It is quite an ordeal but worth it in the end

 

We have just had arrivals of Tullulah and Hermione who are only 16 weeks old but would never put them in with the older hens as they would get pecked to death

 

Cinnamon-Amber 1st egg 23/11/06

Pepperpot-Onyx 1st egg 04/02/07

Tullulah arrived 21/05/2008

Hermione arrived 21/06/2008

Cats Nikita-Karenshka & St.John-Cholmondley

Pretty-Pumkin RIP 28/05/2008

[xsoggyx]

Hi all,

 

After a suggestion from WitchHazel I went to the Breeder inear Leatherhead. There Tracey was very understanding with my situation of the 2 bullies I have and was able to give me 3 Hybrids which were coming upto POL.

 

So far there has been little pecking and all seem to get on well. The Windsor Breeder has offerd to return my money as one of the other birds he kept for me died to a disease in the holding area and he had no others to offer.

 

Will hopefully be able to raise a glass to sucess of the completed band. Posh, Ginger and now Baby, Sporty and Scary. I will post pics soon and advise anyone to ask other Omleters for advice before introducing new girls to any gang as THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT !!!!!

[The Dogmother]

I'm so glad to hear that you have a happy ending at last.

 

Good luck with the new lot.

[AJuff]

xsoggyx even introducing new POL hens takes time too. A few weeks separate where they can see/smell each other before introducing to freeranging together for an hour. Introductions take time and if done slowly and thoughtfully should go very well.

 

The information on the Omlet forum is very sound when it comes to introductions. It's tried and tested.

[WitchHazel]

Good luck with the introductions XsoggyX.