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josephine77

When 2 became 3

By josephine77, in Chickens, Eggs and Hatching

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josephine77 Chicken Eggspert

josephine77

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Hi All,

 

I was hoping to increase my flock of two Omlet Chooks, and recently posted asking about setting up temporary accommodation for the new arrivals when I got them. I'd planned to be very sensible about choosing my next chooks, but I'm afraid yesterday I really let myself down and bought a small brown chicken from a farm shop...because I felt sorry for her. I realised as I took her home that it was a rather stupid thing to do, but I'm afraid my heart ruled my head. I asked them if they had any chickens for sale and they sent a rather scabby looking boy off to fetch them and came out with little Minnie (as I've named her) holding her by the legs :shock: ...I sort of felt like she'd probably be better off with me. They refused to let me go and look at the rest of the chickens which made me a bit suspicious about their conditions anyway.

 

So, I took her home with a view to setting up a make-shift temporary home for her with a cat box and some chicken wire, but despite my best DIY skills - I couldn't make it particularly secure / safe and was worried about foxes etc. So, last night I took the plunge and put her in the nestbox of the eglu with my two exisiting chooks, which didn't go too badly as they were all docile. Today they are all free-ranging and Minnie is exploring the garden and seems to be fine, eating and drinking etc. Winnifred and Agnes do not like her one little bit as you can imagine and she gets a hefty peck around the neck, and a chase if she gets too close- which I guess is to be expected. :(

 

I've read all the posts on introducing new chickens, and realise I've probably done the worst thing by A. impulse buying one hen, and B.Throwing her in at the deep end - I'm hoping you won't all judge me too harshly! :oops:

 

All this aside she really is a very friendly little chicken, and follows me everywhere, even going to sleep on my lap this morning.

 

Am I ok to leave them all in together and just monitor them? - I realise they are going to squabble but will she be ok provided no blood is drawn? I hate to watch them bully her.

 

Also, do you think I should worm her - I get the feeling she won't have had the best start in life.

 

She's still making little cheeping noises so I think still is quite young?

 

Hope you don't all think too badly of me :oops:

 

Jo

xx

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Egluntyne Eggsistentialist

Egluntyne

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Wouldn't dream of judging you but I would urge you to exercise caution re introducing her.

 

For two main reasons.

 

1. A period of quarantine would be a good idea as you say she hasn't been living in ideal conditions and may be carrying disease/parasites. It would be a shame if the others became ill as a result of her having been put with them.

 

2. Because of her weakened condition and the fact that she is so much younger than the others it would be safest to keep her apart for a while. They might make mincemeat of her. Introducing one hen to an established pair is always likely to be tricky irrespective of age differences.

 

I would encourage you to rig up some temporary accommodation, make sure she is well and then take the intros slowly.

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josephine77 Chicken Eggspert

josephine77

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Thanks egluntine - you are right. I have some chicken wire etc. and my OH is home this evening so I will set him the task of construcing a temporary home for her. :wink: She does seem fairly bright eyed and bushy tailed though, so hopefully she's fairly healthy.

 

I love this forum, it's great to know there's always some advice just a few minutes away!

 

Will keep you posted,

 

Thanks,

 

Jo

x

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The Dogmother Eggsistentialist

The Dogmother

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Sorry to hear about that Jo. As mentioned above, it's best to keep her apart from the others until you can be sure of her health, and while the others get used to seeing her around and won't bother her too much when she is finally introduced.

 

Make sure that your existing flock can se eher through the wire and feed them treats along the mesh so that they associate her with nice things.

 

Take it slowly and you will be rewarded with a happy integration.

 

No judgement on you Jo, but sadly, this is the 2nd 'hasty introduction gone bad' that I have heard of in the past 24 hours. :?

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Egg Lou Chatty Chicken

Egg Lou

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Well done on getting her as sounds like she is better off with you by far..

 

I would follow the advice above from Egluntine and Claret if your OH can sort some seperate housing, as they have done this many times before and know their stuff! Think the slower the intro the smoother it all goes!

 

Best of luck and hope things go well for you and your girls! :D

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daj198 Frequent Layer

daj198

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Hi Jo,

 

It sounds like the introductions have gone quite well so far... did your other two not scream at the tops of their vioces when she came into the garden? That's what mine did... for a number of days!

 

Would love to see photos of Minnie and her new house.

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josephine77 Chicken Eggspert

josephine77

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did your other two not scream at the tops of their vioces when she came into the garden? That's what mine did... for a number of days!

Would love to see photos of Minnie and her new house.

 

Hi, yes they certainly did make a racket - I was running round whispering "Ssshhhh, you'll upset the neighbours!" to them, which funnily enough they didn't respond to :roll: I would be a little ashamed to show Minnie's current house, as it really is just a chicken wire and cat box - not very glam, and most definately temporary. I need to find a hutch or ark cheaply as I think she's going to be in it for a few weeks until she grows a bit more. I did put her in the eglu last night to sleep (as I was worried about foxes), they don't seem to mind her at bedtime. I was hoping to borrow one, but no luck so far.

 

Thanks to you all for you support though. I will post a picture of Minnie soon - perhaps if I do you might be able to tell me how old you think she is?

 

J

xxx

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josephine77 Chicken Eggspert

josephine77

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I hope you get the others to accept little Minnie soon :) . She's a lucky little girl, being rescued by you!

 

Do you know anything else about this farm shop? Are they selling many chickens - they sound a bit dodgy don't they :? .

 

They are a touch dodgy, I forget the name, but they are on the main road between Hinckley and Earl Shilton. I'd been there once before because they sell logs which we got for our chimnea. I drive past it most days, and there are boards up saying they sell rabbits, chicks, ducks etc. They appear to be a family business - but it's all very run down. I wouldn't recommend them!

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Mrs Frugal SUPER CHICKEN!!!

Mrs Frugal

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I was hoping to borrow one, but no luck so far.

 

If you're able to get to Stamford, Lincs, I've got an empty mark 1 eglu with a run in the garage you could borrow for as long as necessary. I'd not seen this topic until this morning or I'd have offered sooner. I've just PMd you my postcode in case I can help.

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josephine77 Chicken Eggspert

josephine77

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I was hoping to borrow one, but no luck so far.

 

If you're able to get to Stamford, Lincs, I've got an empty mark 1 eglu with a run in the garage you could borrow for as long as necessary. I'd not seen this topic until this morning or I'd have offered sooner. I've just PMd you my postcode in case I can help.

 

Hi Kate,

 

That would be amazing thankyou - so kind of you to offer. I think Stamford is about an hour from me, so not too bad. Would you be able to drop me an email to let me know when would suit you for me to collect?

 

Thank you so much - I have a big grin on my face now :lol:

 

Jo

xx

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josephine77 Chicken Eggspert

josephine77

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Hello All,

 

Here's a little update for you on Minnie's new home... I collected Kate's spare Eglu this afternoon following a rather sneaky early exit from work - Thanks so much to Kate - I really was touched that someone would offer to lend me an eglu - and thanks too for the lovely chat and cup of coffee that was very welc ome indeed.

Well the eglu's all set up now - Minnie seems to have settled in very well - as soon as I put 'her' eglu down next to my existing eglu, she went straight in - as if relieved to be out of pecking distance from the terrible two (Winnie and Agnes). I'm hoping now to give her a couple of weeks time to grow in size so that she's more of a match for the other two -at least she'll be safe and warm in the eglu now. They seem to free range without too much bullying, so I'll just take it slowly I think. Hopefully if I've done it right, there will be some photos below:

 

Here's little Minnie trying out her new temporary home:

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=33411

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=33409

 

Here she is being small and sweet:

http://club.omlet.co.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=33403

 

 

Here they all are learning to be good neighbours:

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=33405

 

And here's Agnes and Winnie, who just came to investigate the camera whilst I was snapping:

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=33398

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=33407

 

What make is Minnie do you think - and any ideas how old? I was told she was 2 months old - she still cheeps like a chick, and is probably about the size of a tall slender pigeon (if such a think existed!!)

 

Hope these photos have worked!!

 

Jo

xx

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