Single hen

[brambles]

After about 8 weeks of chicken keeping I'm getting a cube with run extension and have decided that it would be nice to get a couple more girls to put in there to keep my existing two cosy.

Next week I'll have an eglu and a cube, so I'll be able to keep each pair of hens (existing and new pair) separate for introductions.

 

Now, you experienced lot, Should I put my big two into the run with extension and the new pair into the eglu until they're big enough/ have found their place in pecking order then all into the cube, or should I put the new two into the cube so that the big two won't feel so territorial about it when they get moved in? The new two will be point of lay pullets - wonder if they'd feel a bit lost in a cube, or would they get all Paris Hilton about it?

 

How to combine them all?

 

Suggestions please!!!

[tom123]

New girls in the cube and keep the old girls in their eglu, then when you mix them the old girls will be going into the new girls territory however there will still be some pecking

 

Tom

[alih]

I agree. Make sure your new girls are at least 18 weeks and preferably a bit older before trying to merge the 2. how exciting!!

[brambles]

Thanks - very sensible advice. The old girls will probably feel more secure, as they know their eglu as their own home too.

 

I'm going to hunt around for advice on intros - keep separate for a few weeks, but scatter grain around new girls' run so that old girls get to meet?

 

I won't be free ranging the new girls so much as my veggie garden's going back into production now it's spring, and needs some respite!

[AbigailGrace]

Well if you were to put them straight in with the other girls then use warm water and add some vinegar to is bath the chickens in it and put them in the cube and let them discover there own way out..

This way you get rid of the chicken smell and there should be no fighting and should get on quite well..

As I know chicken keepers they say this is the most effective and quickest way to add chickens..

 

Hope this helped!

 

Abigail Grace

[brambles]

Thanks Abigail - my fingers are already anticipating the peck marks if I tried doing anything as undignified as washing one of my girls (in their opinion, anyway!) - although I take it you're advocating washing the new girls. I'm too much of a worrier as I work two days a week and wouldn't be able to concentrate thinking that they'd be getting pecked by evil edna!