cordelia Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 I'd appreciate a little advice, now that I've had my girls for a week, after a niggle, I am worried that if anything happens to one girl, and Daphne does have a couple of wonky toes..(doesnt limp, not swollen, and she can roost well) I may have problems introducing another..... that and I also think 3 chickens would be even lovlier than 2.. I have two lovely rhode island red 14week girls, and am thinking of getting a light sussex from the same breeder..... does this sound like a good idea..?? we have a MK2 Eglu...with the standard run (thinking of buying the extension,) husband he does like the chickens, and dashes up the garden in his towel (the shame...) on a morning to let them out..and coincidently gets there on a night to put them to bed..hmmmm (fully dressed this time, thank the lord) anyway my point...do you think my eglu could fit a sussex??? there seems so much room at the moment in there, that the dog could join them....and Im sure he'd like too...... he's going to get a pecked nose soon.. also, my girls need to free range around the garden.....but we've yet to clip their wings...I have the eglu keeping chickens book which shows how, just need a little reassurance, that its just not as awful as it sounds.. has everyone else managed this ok...dont want the girls flying into our neighbours garden,...as Im not sure they approve.... thanks... ooo just got my egg skelter today...smashed an egg (not from our girls they are too young) in the excitement of trying it out... cant wait for our eggs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Trying to introduce one bird is very difficult as its likely to get picked on by the others. Introducing two is supposed to be easier. If you got a converter for your run i think four would be ok. Have a look on the facts section theres lot of info on introductions there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 2 was company 3 a crowd for me. all got same rescu, 2 bully onbe all the time. Rescued a sad fully featherd (sort of) injured girl for a friend for my bullied girl, this is good but I now have 2 chickens sleeping in the downstairs bathgroom, not 1. I don't know how this will resolve but not putting the 2 injured ones back until they are mended! They free range together & avoid wehen they can & their runs are attached so they are in sight. Lose 1 & you can be friend till you can replace, if 3 works for you, live olfe stressfree & peaceful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Three hens make a nice little social group, and if anything happens to one, you are not left with a lone hen. Yours are still young so might not be too wary of a new girl, but introducing one to an established pair can be difficult. Have a look at **these articles** for advice on managing introductions. if you do go for a third hen, a converter would be a very good idea. The more room they have the less likely you are to have a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 Hi. Introducing 1 new hen needs to be done slowly. I introduced 1 new hen exactly 4 weeks after my first girls arrived and it still took time. It can get nasty but if done slowly it should be OK. Take a look at the FAQ link below, as some thought before about separation for slow intros would be useful. viewtopic.php?f=42&t=12688 I have 4 medium hybrids quite happy in a MkII eglu. However, it's the run size that is important. I have a converter on the standard run. Wingclipping is actually easier than you think. There is an Omlet guide on wingclipping but I found this picture on another site most helpful. http://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-wingclipping.html Get someone else to hold the chook whilst you clip. The printed Omlet guide I have says "a good guide is to cut the first 6-7 feathers back as far as the tips of the next line of feathers". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted August 29, 2008 Author Share Posted August 29, 2008 thanks very much..some excellent advice..... (I must remember to keep reading the forum pages further back before I post too) I'll update on third chicken introduction... ...i really appreciate the help thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted September 3, 2008 Author Share Posted September 3, 2008 3 was defintiely a crowd.....everyone was correct, after only a week, my two rhode islands didnt like the new company at all, so we resorted to rescuing our new cream legbar....I think we made all the mistakes we possibly could, first of all I put her straight in with them, and at 13 weeks, she was suprisingly a bit smaller than our other 14week girls... So off they went for their first free range, as they'd been in the eglu a week, that was ok...the cats were interested, but only watched, and the dog thought it most amusing... They ahd to be let out, as they pecked poor henrietta straight away, two onto one, and although youngest daughter was on guard, with a cup of water to flick at our two older girls, we couldnt sit and watch, and hence the tow older girls free ranging... that night I brought out the labradors big puppy cage (pen/crate), covered the shiny metal floor with newspaper, a bit of straw and grit, and got the large cat basket ready set up with newspaper, and my small spare roosting bar...and on the night henreitta slept in here, covered with a blck rug in case it was cold in the night, and that worked fine, the day after, we put Daphne who was number two in the pecking order in with Henrietta, and although she initally pecked, they are now firm friends...it only took a day,,,,,in the meantime Agatha, number one pecking order chook, is free ranging, and sleeping alone in dog run/cat kennel...she is fine, and although initlally tried to peck henrietta through the bars on the eglu, is ok, as long as she can see Daphne, who she loves... Today, we need to introduce daphne and agatha to each other again, so intend to free range them later..... and at some point, Henrietta (cream legbar) is going to have to go in with agatha, but not until the run converter arrives (theres a delay I think, I picked up a message, as I've been away)...thankfully the husband has dealt well with our two human girls and baby, cats dog and chooks, whislt I've been away, anda they were all very happy....he's a superstar!!!!! I'll update as to the henrietta integration with Agatha, top bird.....when we have managed it/...... thanks to everyone for the advice.... really i should have got 3 birds initially...as everyone suggested and it is hard to introduce a new bird, even to two who have only paired for a week....(and all three came from the same breeders barn) but we are getting there...thank goodness we had athe dog crate/cage...and thank goodness its huge !!!!!...as well as the cat basket No eggs yet...oldest girls are 15 weeks...and youngest 13 weeks this week.......ages to go yet..and we cant wait..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted September 3, 2008 Share Posted September 3, 2008 ....we are getting there...thank goodness we had athe dog crate/cage...and thank goodness its huge !!!!!...as well as the cat basket .. Pleased to hear you are surviving the introduction business. I'm so glad you posted on here for info first as reading up on intros and especially having emergency spare accomodation to hand is such a good idea. You had the dog crate, I used my children's Wendy House. It is horrid to watch the nastiness but that's just how it goes in the chicken world. I quite went off my original 3 girls for a while when all 3 jumped on Stella, held her down, then pulled and ate her feathers. It was almost like watching a pack of dogs working together. Do keep us posted and I hope that top chook gets used to your new girl soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura&Sean Posted September 3, 2008 Share Posted September 3, 2008 I always like reading updates, well done for persevering it will pay off well with lots of yummy eggs and happy hens in a few weeks time hopefully! Look forward to the next installment, you are near me by the way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted September 4, 2008 Author Share Posted September 4, 2008 thanks to you for the encouragement... and Laura&Sean, you are near...I was starting to think I was alone up here !! Well integration didnt go to well....Agatha again picking on Henrietta as they free-ranged around the garden, and even Daphne, chased her...the two rhode islands are again inseperable... the weather was terrrible yesterday, its only stopped raining today...and so..Agatha, had another night by herself, and Henrietta (cream legbar) was back with Daphne (2nd hen in pecking order) in the eglu Today, all allegedly out again, but henrietta is hiding in the nesting box.....oh no she isnt she's in the run, it must be the rain she doesnt like...and agatha and daphne are back together...it must be love.... I'll be so happy if I finally do get all three happy with each other...and goodness when and if we get an egg!!!! ((meanwhile husband is an angel...putting agatha and daphne to be in the pouring rain..they were roosting on top of the dog pen/cage last night..on the edge of my daughters scooter (put there to keep the rain cover on)...cant they jump high!! )) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted September 9, 2008 Author Share Posted September 9, 2008 final update promise ..girls all sleeping together...almost free range together...two rhode islands are inseperable, and sometimes let henrietta roam with them, but they can all live togther in the extended run (held with cable ties as the clips werent delivered ) and sleep in the eglu with no problems anyway, apart form the occasional peck, all is well...at last, but its taken two weeks.... although i did see them remove a feather from her this afternoon, will resort to anti-pecking spray if it carries on...johnson do some I saw, and think its been recommended. thank goodness for our dog cage/crate and large cat basket..oh and winter tauplin I'd bought....oh and for the ikea plant pots I used as spare grub and glug's !! lol, otherwise, I'd have had to sleep with the chooks to be sure they were safe and happy. anyway chickens are happy.....now fretting about ever getting eggs...our oldest two must be 16 weeks..and youngest 14 weeks now...so probably a while yet.... thanks for the support Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Good to hear that things have settled down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
