half dozen Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Hi , I have recently been letting my 22 week old cochins free range behind electric netting with my 5 hybrids,and I must say apart from the odd peck and chasing each other it has gone really well.At night though the cochins have always snuggled together on the floor of the stable(on bark) , even though they have a little house to go in!.Whilst the old girls go in their cube, in the stable, but their little door is open so they can get up when they want.Because it is sooo cold tonight i have lifted the babies into the cube with the others and closed the cube door.Immediately the older ones started to peck at the babies even though they had all been asleep for over an hour. Will the babies be ok in the dark in there?? surely they will all just go back to sleep?? or will they still peck in the dark?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 (edited) I think your cochins are roughly about the same age as when I integrated my 2 newies to my flock. You are doing exactly the right thing with the slow free ranging together process aswell. I am sure they will be fine at night as they will be asleep. As long as they are let out of the cube in the morning before they get restless. Are you planning to keep them together in a run during the day or will you be home to supervise? As long as there is plenty of room for the cochins to escape any oncoming attacks it should be ok. Edited January 6, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 They should be fine, if you go out in about 10 minutes I would imagine it will all be quiet. Sometimes it can help to dust them all very lightly with mite powder or similar so they all smell the same but if they've been out together it's probably more of a huffing and "excuse me-ing" as they've all had to budge up to make space! I've just stuffed my silly Poland girl in with the rest as she'd roosted outside again and I didn't fancy frozen chicken in the morning! Mind you I was about to post as my two babies (about 11-12 weeks) had both roosted outside despite having a nice clean yellow eglu all to themselves, and the legbar had roosted ON THE GLUG! When I lifted her off her belly was soaked! She would have frozen to it by morning! Who says hens are silly?! Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
half dozen Posted January 6, 2009 Author Share Posted January 6, 2009 They are fine in the day! if we are about they are freeranging behind the electric netting together.If we are at work they are all in the stable together which is big so plenty of room for them It was purely me worrying because they are all in a very small space together for the first time! I will open the cube door about 6.30 in the morning before it gets light! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 sounds fine to me. To be honest my cochin darlings are always bottom of the pecking order anyway....even now a year on they still get the odd peck from evil Ella.. They just put up with it and never retaliate.....such gentle natured hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
half dozen Posted January 6, 2009 Author Share Posted January 6, 2009 thanks Chelsea!! not too sunny devon tonight is it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 brrr....nooooo! Its been a beautiful day though today hasnt it? (been in work admiring the sun.. ) Did all your cochin girls come from the Traditional breed farm at Crediton? I might pop down there again come spring...their hens are fab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
half dozen Posted January 6, 2009 Author Share Posted January 6, 2009 Yes the cochins are from there and the hybrids from moon ridge farm just near there!! Only been in Devon 12 months and already got 8 girls ha ha! we will probably see each other there one day buying more!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
