MaggieMcHen Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Edit; I've split this topic from one about free teabags! Sheila. Oh and appropo nothing - I'm collecting a shiny eglu on thursday so that I can restock my Peckingham Palace - need the other house for the littles whilst I do the intro's. I'm sure 6 point of lays can cram in the eglu they'll only be there until it gets dark when I will transfer them to the Cube - and back out again in the morning for a day or so until they are all friends Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 OOh, how lovely! 6 new chooks! What are you going to get? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaggieMcHen Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 Don't know yet - still trying to contact the local hen man but hybrids. My grandson wants another White Star as he loved the white eggs and the hen, other than that what ever takes my fancy on the day I lost 4 and a bantam cock to the foxes before we built Peckingham Palace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Sorry to butt in and be rude but just a suggestion MaggieMcHen, I have read lots of places where they advised you put the new hens in the old house then put the old chooks somewhere else. You could put the 6 new ones in the cube and your 2 original girls in the eglu, let them settle in then do some free-ranging together then slowly put the originals back into the cube. this might give the new ones an advantage as they are their first (ish!) Sorry to be rude Good Luck Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 That sounds like a good suggestion Tom, especially if the numbers were the other way round (6 oldies and 2 newbies). I'm no expert at all, so this is just my thoughts rather than experience... with 6 newbies, I'm not sure I'd turf my oldies out. Thinking about it some more, I think I might be tempted to get them introduced more quickly than normal, before the 6 form a solid flock and then the two newbies become the interlopers. But, like I said, I don't have any experience. Hopefully someone with real experience will come along soon... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 It won't matter that the oldies are only two. They will be bigger and bolder, and not at all willing to give up their patch to the newbies, so don't feel harsh about putting the oldies in the eglu and the newbies in the cube. Any advantage the newbies have will be helpful and will speed up the intro, or at least might make it a bit more peaceful . Hope you have lots of fun choosing your new girls, and don't forget to post piccies when they arrive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaggieMcHen Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 Thanks everyone for your suggestions - now I'm completely screwed up about the best way to proceed Only one of my existing hens is laying and I don't want her to stop because she doesn't know where to go Might just go the whole hog and put them together. Had planned transhiping them each night into the cube after lights out and back into a separated situation each morning at sun up. Then free ranging together with me in attendance and lots of treats next day. Any thoughts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Maggie, just a thought - might be worthwhile posting in the Chicken section, describing your circumstances (2 existing, 6 new POL) and asking for advice opinions there. The people who have most experience may not be visiting this topic. note from Sheila;...good idea, I've split & moved the topic, let's hope we can help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaggieMcHen Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 I'm ahead of you - I did that at the same time as posting here! No replys yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
