BarbaraJ Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 The run below is going to be extended on the right back, where the coop is now down to the door and along the fence to the right so about another 5x8-12 foot rectangle. i want to introduce 3-4 new hens to the 2 i have now and wondered if this was the way to go: i will attach the cube to the new extension, leave the 2 old hens in wooden coop and place new hens in cube. do the feeding along the edges and freeranging together them after a week if everything seems peaceful put the old hens into the coop at night and remove divider between 2 runs. does that sound a good plan? ah only problem is how to get into new part of run oops! hmm rethink then have to sort some sort of removable divider to get into new part lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Sounds good to me. We've just added 2 to 3 and it took about a week doing it the way you did it.......it wasn't too bad, though when they free ranged together they got so much corn, as I just kept throwing it on the ground so there wouldn't be any fighting - I'm surprised we still got eggs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 I'll be adding 2 to 2 now.. but I will use my eglu for the intros then sell it on.... I might need comforting the day it goes though I now have to decide on the hens... Egluntine has got me thinking about green/blue egg layers.. unless of course I am 'called upon' to re home two other hens before then I like the idea of them all looking very contrasting in colours though (the girls not egg) although the eggs would be nice too.. You getting Green Barabara??? I think I need help because I just cannot decide, I love them all too much.. except pink! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 Sounds good to me. We've just added 2 to 3 and it took about a week doing it the way you did it.......it wasn't too bad, though when they free ranged together they got so much corn, as I just kept throwing it on the ground so there wouldn't be any fighting - I'm surprised we still got eggs! lol i can imagine, good job i have lots of corn! i'm struggling with how to get into the extension to put food in!!as i dont want another door, maybe as its just for a week i could get in through the cube hole? i wanted green bacause i thought hubby would be more likely to agree but now i wonder about the light thing and he says i could have had any colour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERTIE MCSQUIRTY Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 for my tupenny's worth of knowledge i have, last night placed 2 POL hens in the coop with my existing 3 (i did have a strategy to separate them), my oh (chicken keeper up until we met 15 yrs ago) said to just let them get on with it as they will sort things out naturally! apart from about half an hour this morning assisting them with the squabbling over the food (placed 2 feed bowls out) the hens have been ok. just peeked through the window and all are eating their porridge from the same feeder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 I love them all too much.. except pink! You may have put it in smaller type....but I can still read it! "I'm Poachedegg and I love my PINK cube" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 I'll be adding 2 to 2 now.. ......and I thought you were only having 3 - that flock is getting bigger by the day?!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 for my tupenny's worth of knowledge i have, last night placed 2 POL hens in the coop with my existing 3 (i did have a strategy to separate them), my oh (chicken keeper up until we met 15 yrs ago) said to just let them get on with it as they will sort things out naturally! apart from about half an hour this morning assisting them with the squabbling over the food (placed 2 feed bowls out) the hens have been ok. just peeked through the window and all are eating their porridge from the same feeder i did wonder with 3 new ones to two old ones that might work as long as i have stand by provision for them. A new cube and new hens might be new enough to unsettle them (in a good way) to accept the newcomers? they have never shown any signs of having a top chock even when i had 3! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 What surprised us when doing the intros was it wasn't the originals who started the pecking/squabbles it was one of the new ones! Having said that it was only a little - just over food, so we put more feeding stations out and 3 bowls for treats instead of 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 ......and I thought you were only having 3 - that flock is getting bigger by the day?!! I did wonder if you'd notice.. adding two if safer isn't it, so two it is, although buy oh boy did I have to stand my ground with hubby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 Lol i keep upping my amount, originally i was getting 2 more before the Cube when i lost Amber, now the Cube is coming i am going to get at least 3-4 more as i told hubby there needed to be that many at least to keep them all warm and cosy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Lol i keep upping my amount, originally i was getting 2 more before the Cube when i lost Amber, now the Cube is coming i am going to get at least 3-4 more as i told hubby there needed to be that many at least to keep them all warm and cosy that made me laugh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
