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

[atsw]

I'm looking for some advice if I may. As a family we've had chickens for over three years now, and we all enjoy having them roaming around the garden. Our first two (see here) were taken by a fox about six months after we got them, but we immediately got another three as we could not bare to be without chooks (see here).

 

A few years on, and we're down to just one chicken, the other two having passed away (of natural causes this time) during the year. Our remaining chook is now quite old and clearly getting lonely without Tulip and Poe to keep her company. She stopped laying eggs about two weeks ago, and has today started to moult!

 

This leaves us in a dilemma. We'd love new chooks, but what about poor old Fifi? Will she take to new arrivals, will the new chickens take to her? Is this the best time to even try?

 

Any and all advice would be very welcome

 

Regards

 

Andrew

 

Edit: Web-links changed to update pictures.

Edited November 16, 2008 by Guest

[moomin]

I would definitely get a couple of new chooks to keep poor old fifi company. I don't think chickens like to be on their own

 

Best to introduce 2 more rather than 1 to 1. There are loads of posts on here about introducing new chickens.

 

Good luck

[Egluntyne]

Poor old Fifi...I'd get her a couple of companions.

 

Have a look **here** for articles on managing intros.

[atsw]

Hello again. Many thanks to moomin and Egluntine for your very helpful and comforting advice, which we took! I'm very pleased to say that as of today Fifi has two new companions, Di and Anna. The two new chickens are Buff Orpington and can be seen enjoying the late Autumn sunshine in our Oxfordshire garden here. They are gorgeous, and seem to be getting on with Fifi (and Fifi getting on with them), so that's great.

 

They are both about twenty weeks old, so should be coming into lay quite soon. We have a large garden, so once they have spent a week in the Omlet enclosure getting used to their new surroundings we'll let them outside to roam free (as we have always done with all our chooks).

 

Regards

 

Andrew

[Egluntyne]

They are beautiful.

 

Good to hear that all appears calm.

[chelsea]

oooh what lovely hens,

 

Glad you've had a happy ending.

[aaronmusgrove123]

they are lovly they look just like a giant pekin you can really see how big they are Aaron

 

Edit: ive just read that the quenn mother used to keep orpingtons as-well

[Patricia7455]

They are really beautiful hens and I love the way you have given us links to look at the pictures of them, that was very convenient.

[Plum]

Big fluffy cuddly hens. super

[moomin]

They are beautiful, two new fluffy girls to keep poor fifi company I hope they are the best of friends

[abwsco]

They're gorgeous Buffs are on my list for next time even though they'd dwarf my others.

[atsw]

Thanks everyone for all your kind words. I thought it only right and proper to give you all an update now he girls have been with us 24hrs.

 

We allowed Fifi (our existing old hen) back into the Omlet Enclosure at 4:30pm last night, just as it was getting dark. She walked straight past the two new girls and into the coup, where she took up her usual position roosting on the edge of the nesting area. About 10-15mins later Di and Anna followed Fifi's lead and put themselves to bed too without any 'encouragement' from us. So, once all three were in I shut the coup door and left them to it for the night (after a quick peep in through the eggport to see where they were all sitting). We did keep an ear open for any squabbling, but other than a little shuffling, all seemed quiet.

 

This morning I re-opened the coup door at 7:00am. Fifi was straight out and into the run (as usual). I opened the cage door and she proceeded into the garden after a quick drink and some food. Once she was out I shut the cage door again and took a tentative peep into the eggport to see how Di and Anna were doing. They were snuggled up, one perched on the nestbox, the other tucked in the back of the coup - and waiting for me in the nestbox itself was a lovely . I retired to the house to show the rest of the family the egg.

 

After about 15mins, Di and Anne can out into the run and took food and water. Back I went to check the inside of the coup and found another lying on the bars .

 

We're keeping Fifi outside the run and in the garden today, and will continue to do so for a few days yet, but it was nice to see all three of them eating together (albeit on either side of the cage) as we were sitting down to have our breakfast this morning. Fifi certainly seems very pleased to have company again and Di and Anna don't seem to have been at all upset by the change of location.

 

So, all in all, it seems to be going very well so far .

 

Andrew

[RubyReckless]

Lovely news, Andrew! Sounds like it is really going well.

 

I'm envious of the eggs! Seven chickens and I'm having to buy eggs in. 5 too young, 2 in moult and a bit older to boot, so I'm trying to remain patient.

[atsw]

Just to update everyone who contributed to this thread, we're now at the end of our first week, and everything went really well. Our old girl, Fifi, and the two new girls, Di and Anna, are all getting on with each other and now free ranging in the garden as a happy and contented flock. There's been no squabbling at all.

 

I've been spending time with them in the garden this afternoon (meant to be sweeping leaves on my day off work, but got rather distracted by their antics and just sat around watching the girls for well over an hour ).

 

Anyway, it's all been a great success, so I've updated the pictures I posted earlier to show everyone how we're doing. Click here or see the link in my signature.

 

Regards

 

Andrew

[Daphne]

they look truly scrumptious - its nice to read about a success story!

[Egluntyne]

Well done and thanks for the update.

[helenmb]

Andrew, they are gorgeous, I also have Orps on my 'want' list. My DH fancies as Cochin too, but we need more space so won't be for a few years yet. Glad they are all getting on so far - long may it continue and I am sure Fifi is going to be happier with some henfriends to keep her company in her dotage.

[Plum]

Thanks for posting. Good to hear it went so well.