alih Posted February 10, 2009 Author Share Posted February 10, 2009 Well they have defintely discovered food! This morning they shot out and have been at the grub since..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 meal worms were the 1st treats mine fell in love with (dried) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackgold Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Did you try the grape trick? sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted February 10, 2009 Author Share Posted February 10, 2009 No but I tried raisins and baby toms - they pecked happily at them but then dropped them and didn't eat them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackgold Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 mine dont like toms. raisens have to ripped up a bit, they wont eat them whole. Grapes they can manage whole now but still prefer them cut in half and being hand fed..lol sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Mine go beserk for grapes but I always cut them up as they can get stuck. Floppy (Lurleen) also used to love watermelon and wobetide(sp?)the others if they wanted some -lol Oh, and they'll all only eat cucumber if I cut that up for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted February 11, 2009 Author Share Posted February 11, 2009 Just tried with sweetcorn and it worked! They hoovered it up - how great to see them behave like normal greedy chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Just tried with sweetcorn and it worked! They hoovered it up - how great to see them behave like normal greedy chickens *off to buy some sweetcorn!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Mine 10 months in still like me to "hold" some treats while they rip at them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 My little monsters won't eat corn off the floor until they've had some out of my hands first and I always hand-feed them their grapes so they all get roughly the same amount . They really do have me trained! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackgold Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Now you need to go up the garden and find some woodlice. They will love you for ever...lol love Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted February 11, 2009 Author Share Posted February 11, 2009 My old girls ADORE woodlice - we did a wall dismantling in the summer and they were in heaven! Isn't it funny how when you have ex bats you become like a new mum again - each day you see something new and wonderful about your babies!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackgold Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 dont talk to me about babies, we had 8 pups born last night......lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted February 11, 2009 Author Share Posted February 11, 2009 Oh Sue are they here? COngratulations! How exciting - are they on your website?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackgold Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 webcam is on just click on the bottom link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Just taken a peek at them... beautiful babies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackgold Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 If you cant get on the webcam there are some pics of them on my collies talk spaces..... love Sue xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted February 13, 2009 Author Share Posted February 13, 2009 another question: how long does it take for the ex bat pecking order to settle in usually? My top dog is non-stop at poor Omar at the mo, and although I give her 1/2 hr /day peace when i get in by extracting Bubbles i am wondering how long it will take to subside? Guess just wondering what is normal and what should lead to concerns as have only had regular chickens before. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackgold Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 As long as they are not drawing blood, pulling out feathers then leave them to it. i had 3 feeding stations for mine originally, one each....... If you keep seperating them it goes on for longer. One has got to be bottom of the pile but as long as she has room to get out of the way and food available, she will be ok. Love Sue xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 raffik, just keep a wary eye on your new girl as she will be quite weak and if your other 2 girls are well established, the new girl could be bullied and being an ex batt, she might not be able to defend herself very well. Fingers x'd all goes well, just urging caution. I would just like to echo/repeat this. They are all very different, but thinking about pecking order etc, it does make sense however their "normal" situation would be in a flock & there would be lots of space to get away from any aggresion. (also they have not led "normal lives" I think like most animals some aggresion is a "space issue", my 2 started on their "friend" after relatively few weeks , maybe 4. 10 months on & she is FINALLY growing bum feathers. She came badly pecked there & the 2 "horrids" picked on her mercilessly, actively seeking her out (in the Eglu run) pinnimg her down in a corner, & pecking. We buikt an extension which did help a bit, but due to narrowness it was very difficult to create "get out of the way/sight space. For me.. the walk in run has been the BEST thing, whilst almost the same squre footage the space is different,. I know the straw is contraversial, but it has created space to get up on around out of sight. I don't think unless you have experienced extreme bulyiing you can understand the distress. I like you was unsure what is acceptable/normal behaviour, the blood is DEF a give away. I sat for hours as Egluntine sugested (never got around to the water pistol) It DEF helped but as soon as my back was turned they would start (got web cam so know not just cos I was there) I focussecd on head chook & have to say 10 months on & head girl IS better behaved than her vicious understudy. who will probably need a bumper bit. Sorry for long posting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted February 13, 2009 Author Share Posted February 13, 2009 I have loads of food stations. I agree that they should get on with it and if we separate them it will only prolong things but I was just wondering whether it was any different with ex bats. By the way I let them out tonight to have a little wander around their run before bedtime....so cute...they were really hesitant to leave the run. They already have personalities... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 My lot took a couple of weeks to finally settle the pecking order, though top and bottom chook were sorted very quickly. Number 3 chook Hope still occasionally has a go at those below her in the order , but it's all over very quickly and they've never shed blood. Think I've been quite lucky really and I may be in for a shock when I try introducing newbies next month - water pistol will be at the ready Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One_Box Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Never observed any pecking until I had by ex-batts for 10 days. Suddenly Dora started pecking Nora on the head but it was only intermittent and only seemed to last one day. Since then they seem the best of mates I've observed one thing however which is completely different from anything I've seen from either mine or Oh's chooks - these two love gold They peck both my rings as soon as I put my hands anywhere near them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackgold Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Mine peck anything shiny not just rings. Think its a hen thing...lol My bullying problems were sorted out as soon as i bought a Faverolle in. She is an adult and true to her breed very placid. Now if they peck it is very gently done. they pick little bits of food out of Bam Bams beard lol It is very cute to watch..... love Sue xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
