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

[sids mum]

After 6 weeks it seems (keeping everything crossed) that peace has broken out in the land of the eglu.

To explain, we got our eglu and 2 omlet birds in April and had such fun and soooo many demands for eggs that we thought we'd get 2 more birds - which we did from Annie Halls Poultry in Siston Nr Bristol - google her, she is lovely and the chicken set up is idyllic.

 

As per Annie's advice we introduced the new birds at night as the elder 2 were settling down to sleep.

The following day ( Sunday ) lots of chicken bad language from our no. 2 chicken who seemed to be exerting herself. That's ok we thought, in line with what we've read and other people have told us. After a few days it should all settle down.

Alas not!!

After a few days our new light sussex ( pecky) had a hole in her neck the size of a 50p and it was down to muscle - not a pretty sight especially as she is white.

Phoned the vet, phoned omlet and phoned Fiona - the wonderful lady that held the chicken party in March this year.

The vet said : you need antiseptic powder

Omlet said: keep her away from other chickens as they'll keep pecking at the sight of blood

Fiona said: do you want to borrow our spare eglu?

 

Fiona ( and Nigel ) I think saved Pecky from all sorts of fates and more importantly has saved Audrey ( previous no.2 chicken ) from being re-homed.

On Fiona's advice we have had the 2 eglus side by side for over a month - the 4 birds seperated in the day 2 + 2 but allowed to free range together when we were around to supervise.

Audrey has spent some time in isolation as the other 3 have bonded but this last week although she still pecks at the new two - no more holes!! and no active stalking which she was doing.

 

All being well, our run extender comes next week and the borrowed eglu can be returned and we will have 4 chucks living in the closest thing to harmony they can manage.

 

I guess what I'm saying is, if you are introducing new chickens and it seems to be going pear shaped, do not give up. ours have taken 6 weeks to acclimatise and it HAS been stressful for us and them, but the older 2 are still laying, the younger 2 are eating and clucking and enjoying roosting in the apple tree ( Audrey seems scared of heights)

 

All we need now is for the younger 2 to start laying - they will be 20 weeks this weekend, and for all 4 of them to stop pecking at the windfalls from the apple tree before I can pick them up!!

 

Fingers crossed the worst is over - I have really benefited from reading the posts of others introducing new birds and thought I'd like to add my story as what was a bit of a nightmare now seems to be settling - at last !!

[beach chick]

thank goodness peace reigns, sounds as if you have been through the mill! hope it carries on well for you.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Glad to hear it's all settling down for you .

[Olly]

good to hear a happy ending!

[eggypeggy]

Oh. thank you for posting that. I'm having a similar problem.. MY 'top dog' chook has'drawn blood' on a little one, not as bad as that though, blimey must have been v stressful.

 

So we have seperated them at night and during the day are keeping the little ones in the run while the big ones free range.. Been like this for 1 week now.. My little ones are 16 weeks.

 

When did you start supervised free ranging all together? I'm not in a hurry, but don't want to drag the whole process out longer than neccessary.

 

Really good to hear all will be well eventually..

Thanks again.

V

[Egluntyne]

Oh. thank you for posting that. I'm having a similar problem.. MY 'top dog' chook has'drawn blood' on a little one, not as bad as that though, blimey must have been v stressful.

 

So we have seperated them at night and during the day are keeping the little ones in the run while the big ones free range.. Been like this for 1 week now.. My little ones are 16 weeks.

 

When did you start supervised free ranging all together? I'm not in a hurry, but don't want to drag the whole process out longer than neccessary.

 

Really good to hear all will be well eventually..

Thanks again.

V

 

16 weeks is a little young for chicks to be put in with adult hens tbh.

 

An Omleteer recently had her chick pecked to death. Best to wait till they are around 22 weeks.

 

Why not have a look at **this article** for info about managing intros.

[sids mum]

we let them free range in pairs to start with - the newbies were out and the older birds were in and vice versa for a week or so ( new birds were about 16 - 17 ) weeks by then.

then we bit the bullet and let them out altogether all day for 5 consecutive days but sleeping in seperate eglus. it was fortunate I had some annual leave at the right time.

This free ranging seemed to help - Audrey ( no.2) used to peck and squabble but stopped actively stalking afte the first day.

we've been really brave this week - everyone back at work, and put all 4 in the same eglu while we are at work, and then let them out when we come home.

no holes in any of the birds and at least 3 of them can be found on top of the run when we wander up to see them with treats.

 

Birds 2 & 3 are now happy to be picked up and cuddled. Top bird ( Priscilla) still isn't too chuffed at this and Pecky ( no.4 bird) jumps into the tree. But, when we do catch them for a health check they do snuggle into us for a cuddle so they will continue on their diet of a cuddle a day until they are as realxed as the other two.

 

Reading all the introducing chickens posts, I realise that we introduced the new 2 too soon, and wn't be making that mistake again as they were too young, even though the older ones were POL in late April, so not that old.

Hey ho, its all a learning curve and we know for next time - hubbie wants a cube next . . .

[eggypeggy]

Great, thanks for letting me know about the free ranging. We'll keep up the full seperation for a couple more weeks and then I'll try supervised free ranging for a couple of weeks they'll be about 18 weeks then, but I'll keep seperate bed times now until they are pol.

 

We've got seperate feeding stations, so we'll see what happens with feeding when they are together! The only thing that worries me is the time when we finally integrate them fully, I'm sure there wil still be plenty of pecking! But I'm to expect that. Hopefully by then they will be so used to each other it will be short lived.

 

Things have improved already. My two pepperpots are showing slightly less attention to the newies in the run. It's only been one week, so it'll be at least 4 more weeks before full introductions.

 

Thanks again for your info. Your right about a steep learning curve.

Cheers

V

[Egluntyne]

We've got seperate feeding stations, so we'll see what happens with feeding when they are together!

Why not encourage them to share treats such as sweetcorn along the edge of the fencing or whatever separates them.

 

It will get them used to the look of each other close up, and will accustom them to eating together so that they will see that there is enough for everyone.

[abwsco]

Oh. thank you for posting that. I'm having a similar problem.. MY 'top dog' chook has'drawn blood' on a little one, not as bad as that though, blimey must have been v stressful.

 

So we have seperated them at night and during the day are keeping the little ones in the run while the big ones free range.. Been like this for 1 week now.. My little ones are 16 weeks.

 

When did you start supervised free ranging all together? I'm not in a hurry, but don't want to drag the whole process out longer than neccessary.

 

Really good to hear all will be well eventually..

Thanks again.

V

 

My 16 week olds are on their second full day of free ranging with my "oldies" today and it's going well. They've had some supervised free ranging since the 1st Spetember in two hourish slots and it's working for us. We have only had minimal chasing.

[eggypeggy]

Thanks Eglutine for advice.. I am giving treats along the edge of run.. They had mashed cooked potato peelings tonight. I'm generally treating the girls a bit more than usual.

 

The feeding stations are all hooked up to the run, so they are eating near to each other too. They're all quite close together, just seperated by the run wire. So, so far so good.

 

Quite happy with the set up for next few weeks.. I'll try a little free ranging in a week or so.. Thanks also for your info Anne. V helpful to see what others have done or are doing.Goodluck with your intros too.

 

I'm just waiting until my skyline has sorted out her feathers.. she'd been pecked before I got her and had lost quite a few feathers on her back.. so once she's looking good I'll let them out.

 

V