4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[chixandthecity]

Hello

 

We're getting two new Warrens this afternoon to replace our Maran who died yesterday.

 

We have Blossom, the White Star, at the moment so will be introducing the new ones to her.

 

We have set up a new run for the new ones and will keep them in there for the first few days with Blossom free ranging around them. We are planning on putting the new ones into the Eglu at night as we have no other sleeping quarters (well, we do at a push).

 

Any tips?

 

Thanks!

 

Chix

[Carol U]

Sounds as if you're doing exactly the right thing. If you have an old cat basket or similar in which to put the new ones until they are all asleep, before tucking them in next to the old one, it might be better. If she is still awake, your White Star might well attack them in the early days. After a few days, you can gradually let them free range together for a short time, closely supervised of course. When I introduced my newest ones, I invested in a water pistol and sprayed the old ones if they became too aggressive. Seemed to work. Good luck with it.

[Scotty]

Don't know if it helps or not... we just introduced 4 new hens to our existing 2 in regards to the beding situation, we have a cube so don't know if you have or not??? but we put existing hens to bed in the nesting area and then put stiff cardboard across the door to what we call their lounge... then the remaining hens went to bed in the larger part of the cube. in the morning we let the old girls free range outside of the cube and locked the cage door for the new girls so they could all see each other but couldn't peck. we stayed like this for a week then turfed them all in together, now they are all friends and thankfully no pecking at all.

[chixandthecity]

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

We brought our two new Warrens home this afternoon and popped them in the temporary run. Their names are Poppy and Rosie .

 

We then let Blossom out of the Eglu run and much bok bokking ensued. Blossom didn't seem at all pleased to have interlopers on her turf and squared up very aggressively to Rosie who I think will give her a run for her money. Blossom and Rosie pecked at each other through the mesh of the temp run!

 

We put Blossom back in the Eglu run to prevent too much stress for the new ones. She then clucked and squawked loudly for about half an hour and paced up and down the run like a lunatic. When she calmed down a bit we let her out again and this time she free ranged and barely paid the new ones any attention

 

We have just put the Poppy and Rosie to bed in the garage (although Poppy 'escaped' into the garden and had to be chased) in the temp run with a cardboard box nest/sleeping area. At least they're safe and dry in there. We'll try putting them in the Eglu in a day or two but didn't fancy a set to tonight! Blossom is currently in the lap of luxury with the entire Eglu and run to herself

 

Looking forward to seeing what they get up to tomorrow.

 

Chix

 

Blossom (White Star) arrived 28/3/09

Poppy and Rosie (Warrens) arrived 15/4/09

RIP Sunflower 14/4/09