Cube mk2 and WIR

[sambee]

Chris and I started out with two chicks, a campine and a welsummer but yesterday we got a maran and a columbine which is a hybrid (not sure what of, anyone can help?) and we put them in the run with the two young'ns but the big girls went after them, which I understand is normal, set up a pecking order, we took them out anyway and decided to put them in a seperate run and put them inthe house at night with little ones. They seemed to be okay about that, but in the morning when we let them out, the little ones ran out terrified, and haven't stopped trying to find a way out of the run, and if not, they're in the house.

 

What do we do? Is this normal? WIll they settle down?

 

I don't like seeing them scared.

[moochoo]

Hiya, first of all a Columbine is a Cream Legbar Hybrid and should lay you green/ blue eggs

Secondly, it's always best to introduce new chooks slowly. I've used both methods. The throw them all in together and the slow and separate method. I have to say the slow method causes less stress and heartache!

If you have to keep them in the same accomodation then they'll be fine in the house at night but will need extra feeding stations in their run to reduce territorial fighting. It would be wise to give them maximum free ranging as this gives the little ones room to run away. There will always be pecking, just be aware of blood being drawn and separate accordingly. Bumpa bits and Ucadex spray are useful tools to reduce feather pulling and injuries.

It takes about 3 weeks before the nastiness dies down. Good luck.

[TAJ]

What ages are we talking? No intros should be attempted until they are around POL age - they will kill very young birds make no mistake!

 

Tracy

[Egluntyne]

Absolutely agree. You have been given very poor advice there.

 

Have a look at **these articles** and **this article**.

 

A couple of Omleteers have had youngsters pecked to death because they introduced them too early to older hens.

 

I would find some temporary alternative accommodation for the little ones, and then follow the advice in the above articles.

 

Good luck.

[sambee]

Oh dear, that sounds like trouble. I don't live with Chris at the moment, but from what he's been telling me, they seem to be feeding together fine now.

The young ones I don't believe are anywhere near 22 weeks, they're about 12-14 weeks.

 

I was gonna put a link to the 4 chickens together, but I can't, but I will make Chris tomorrow.

 

An additional separate home is an option as a cube has just been purchased and the eglu is on loan, if you think it is necessary.

 

Thank you for all being so helpful by the way.

[alih]

I would definitely put them in separate accommodation until the babies are at least 18 weeks old. If you have the houses already, so much the better! After 18 weeks they can free range together and the babies will have plenty of room to escape if the big girls geat heavy on them. Then they can be brought together slowly after that. I am not an expert but the links Egluntine gave you workd wonders for me when I merged 2 sets of 2. The slower the better otherwise you can have a disaster on your hands. Good luck!

[chelsea]

agree with the above advice, we always keep our newbies in seperate quarters until they are at least 18 weeks old and up to "fighting weight"

 

We keep them in another eglu where the old girls can see and smell the new girls, when the little'uns get bigger you could introduce some supervised free ranging and then introduce the new girls gradually to the flock over time.