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

[Kairen]

We have just got 2 more chickens 17 weeks old. We are very succesfully keeping them separated from the older 2 hens. We have done this before and had no problems

 

I have ordered some bumper bits, does anyone know if that means I can introduce the young chickens to the older ones earlier or should I do like last time and keep them separate for quite a few weeks?

 

The reason I am asking is that we are going away for a couple of nights and it would be easier for the chicken sitters if they were all together in the same run

Cinnamon-Amber

Pepperpot-Onyx

Tullulah

Hermione

[alih]

don't have an answer I'm afraid but would be very interested to hear your past experience of merging chickens - I have 2 newbies who are currently 19 weeks and am keeping them separate from the 2 year olds - it's all going fine for now, and I let them free range in the garden at the same time yesterday with only some minor assaults by the bruisers. am planning on taking it very slowly but I too am going away in a few weeks and would like them all to be in the extended run by then. How long did it take for you to merge them completely, and how did you know when it was the right time?

[urbanchick]

I have found that with bumpa bits they can't peck but can they still bully, e.g. stand on top of them, pinning them down, chase them, etc. So maybe it's a bit early?

[Egluntyne]

At 17 weeks they are still to young to go in with the big girls I'm afraid.

 

Bumperbits won't stop them using their claws or weight to bully the little ones.

 

It would be better to wait till they are big enough to stand up for themselves.

[Kairen]

Last time we introduced a new one, from day one we put the new chicken in the coup at night but quite late so the older ones were sleepy and we never noticed any pecking or problems.

 

At that time we bought our new chicken from omlet so I believe it was about 19/20 weeks old and we separated them for about 2 1/2-3 weeks. But when we did put them in all together we did it on a day we were in all day so that we could check on them constantly and although I felt sorry for the new one as she did not want to come out of the coup she came to no harm and with no serious pecking. Also we had bought some other feeding and water holders so that she could access them near the coup so she could quickly go and get a drink and then retreat to the coup

 

By the time we will be away for 2 nights the new ones will be about 21 weeks so we will have a 'trail run' before we go away to see how things go but if it does not go well we will keep them separated

 

We know someone who did not separate them and they were all pecked to death which we found irresponsible and extremely distressing as the chickens have no way of escaping if they are put all together, so we will make sure that does not happen even if we have to cancel going away

 

Cinnamon-Amber

Pepperpot-Onyx

Hermione no egg yet

Tullulah no egg yet

[alih]

how awful! Thanks for the details - it's rally useful to see how others have done it...it's now a week and they have separate sleeping quarters and range separated most of the day - I have decided to let them range together in the whole garden until the bruisers stop caring then begin to confine them in a smaller netted off space as the next stage then stage 3 will be in the run together day and night but ranging most of the time. I think it will take about 3 weeks in all which seems the norm from what people are saying. I am fascinated by the dynamics of it all - tonight there is a bit of running at but much less pecking of the babies - and that's since yesterday. though they keep their distance! Not nice to watch but no real viciousness thank goodness.

[Kairen]

Hi, I do think it would be a good idea to put them all together in the coup at night but I have found that you have to put the new ones in late when it is dark and get them out at the crack of dawn to prevent them all waking up and any bullying happening. Its worked for us anyway. I don't know if any other omleters have found this to be unwise though

Cinnamon-Amber

Pepperpot-Onyx

Hermione

Tullulah

[alih]

thanks Kairen, all realy helpful - am a bit scared of putting them together at night and opening the eglu in the morning to find mayhem but will bite the bullet probably this weekend.

[beach chick]

I put Sugar, our new POL leghorn, in with the big girls last night, and it all went absolutely fine! that's after about 2 weeks of seeing each other through netting and the odd bit of trolling round the garden together when Sugar escaped. she's back with the other babies in the netting for today, but I'll put her in the pink eglu again tonight. not sure about letting her freerange with the big girls yet, she still seems too young and flighty - maybe once she starts laying.

[Kairen]

Yesterday we put them all together in the run, whilst we were in the garden keeping an eye on them Pepperpot-Onyx chased Hermoine a bit but once we were indoors looking through the nets they were absolutely fine.

 

They seemed to have all mixed together really well, we are so chuffed! Hermoine also laid her first egg so we have been doubly excited!

Cinnamon-Amber

Pepperpot-Onyx

Hermoine 1st 08/07/2008

Tullulah

[Egluntyne]

Good news.

[alih]

my 4 have been sleeping together since last week and although there is still some chasing occasionally and the odd warning peck, it all seems to be alright - they are still quite distinct couples but guess that will take a bit of time to go