Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[FruitandNutCake]

I spent a couple of hours this afternoon dismantling the rabbit run and converting it into a 8ft by 4ft high divider for the walk in run. The theory was that the ex-batts and rabbits would have the wooden coop and half the run, the original 3 hens having the 8x6 shed and the other half of the walk in run.

 

So I go out to check on them all, and 2 of my original hens are ontop of the coop in the ex-batts half, and Maisy the Ex-batt has managed to get over the 4ft barrier into the other half.

 

What amazed be was that there was no argueing! But to be on the safe side, I put them all back in their correct sections. I stood there was a few minutes and Maisy bounces on her legs a few times, then up she goes - onto the top of the "fence". I return her again, but she is persistent.

 

I haven't time before it gets dark to dismantle the fence and turn it back into an enclosed 4x4 run, so I just hope that they will be OK.

 

Fortunately my 3 original girls only seem to have a problem with Annabella - who just happens to be the one who terrorizes the other 3 ex-batts. If any squabbling is going to happen - it with involve Anabella!

 

They have been seeing each other through the mesh for nearly 2 weeks, but I wanted to wait till at least the weekend before trying to introduce them whilst free ranging.

 

Not sure what to do - whether to see how they get on together in the walk in run ( about 21ft x 9ft in total) or get up really early and try to block of the top 2ft above the barrier so they can't jump over .

[mrsallen08]

Hiya

Have they been able to see each other before now? Before mixing completely I read that they should be able to see each other but with a boundary between them. To show there is no anomosity a bit of corn on each side of the barrier should allow them to all be eating near each other without fear of competition. Well that is the theory! This is how we integrated our chicks and like your Isabella one of our RIRs was particularly nosey and kept jumping on the chicks cage! When merging them altogether there is always going to be 'henpecking' no matter what. The only time to worry is if all gang up on one particular chook or if there is any bleeding - which will attract more attacks.

 

Hopefully yours should be okay as they are at least big enough to fend for themselves! Our chicks had it tough for the first day or 2 but now get on really well and the big chooks even share their perch now with the young chicks in the coop!

 

Good luck!

[chickenanne]

Surely the chickens will harass and bully the rabbits, which are after all pretty defenseless? Even if all they do is give an interested peck occasionally, I wouldn't've thought keeping them together is very kind to the rabbit.

[FruitandNutCake]

The ex-batts have been able to see my original 3 girls for about 2 weeks. I have been sprinkling food on either side of the separating wire mesh. I just re-arranges the mesh panels to give the ex-batts more space whilst I was at work - not expecting them to be able to get up and over it. Fortunately I was up extra early, and have several willow trellis panels around the garden, so I fixed them so that the barrier goes to the roof of the walk in run.

 

As for the rabbits, they have been with my 3 original girls for 3 months, and the chickens do not bother the rabbits. The rabbits have their favorite sleeping spot on top of the coop, and will just sleep on the floor of the run without a care in the world! The run is about 21ft x 9ft, so plenty of space - it's not like they are contained in a small rabbit run that most pet shops supply!

 

When I got home this afternoon, Steffi was soundo and didn't even stir when I walked next to her. Bugsy was stretched out on top of the coop and the ex-batts were not taking any notice of the rabbits! At 3:30, the rabbits and my original 3 are let out into the garden to roam - they have 30ft x 30ft at least - but will have the rest of my 150ft garden when I "fence" off the veg patch!

 

The rabbits are used to the chickens don't appear to be bothered by them at all.