2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[lex2408]

Hi there,

I was really hoping for some advice.

We got 2 chickens (Barbara & Margot) from Omlet last month. We have them in an eglu and decided to get 2 ex batts.

We hired another eglu and on Saturday went and helped at a rescue.

When the chickens were coming out the barn there was one which was exceptionally bald which we felt sorry for so we took it (Mrs Mangle) we also got one more, which we just picked out of a crate (Madge)

We got home on Saturday and put them in the hired eglu.

We also let them have a quick wander around the garden before they went into the eglu which went well.

They both seemed fine in there and on Sunday we let them out (into the run) and it was all fine.

W[/img][/img]e let Barbara and Margot out to free range and they had a bit of a peck round the eglu but there was no drama.

This morning when we let them into the run we noticed that Madge seemed very agitated. We then realised that Mrs Mangle was being really vicious to her.

We had to go out so we left them to it and went to a pet shop to try to get some anti-peck spray. We eventually tracked some down at a garden centre but it has not helped (it is Johnsons) We also tried to spray Madge with gentian spray.

We decided to let all 4 out to free range which was ok, Barbara & Madge stuck together and Mrs Mangle and Madge just did their own thing, there was a little bit of pecking, but nothing to worry about. We then put the 2 originals and Mrs Mangle, the bully in the run together thinking that they might stick up for themselves (2 against 1 and all that) but when we went back after 20 mins, Barbara was literally hiding her head under Margots wing, so we took out Mrs Mangle and put her in a cat carrier. we then tried Madge in with the other 2 but I think it is really too early and she is just so scared atm.

So the situation now is we have Barbara and Margot in their eglu, Madge in the hired one and Mrs Mangle sat in a cat carrier. This evening we will put her in the cat carrier in the run.

Tomorrow we are going to let Mrs Mangle and Madge free range straight away.

I have just ordered some Ukadex, and I really don't know what we'll do if that doesn't work. I think we'll have to rehome her!

Any advice or words of encouragement gratefully received!!

[Carol U]

So sorry to hear that you're having problems, especially when you've done something as nice as adopt ex-batts. However, I think you're expecting rather too much too soon. It always takes a while to introduce new hens to one another, and ex-batts in particular have been used to a much more aggressive and confined way of life. I would keep your old ones together as normal, but within sight of the new ones and if possible, during the day separate the new ones from one another, but again, so that they can see each other. You can do this by pushing canes through the eglu run so that you have two halves. At night when they're sleepy they can go back in together. It may be that your aggressive ex batt is simply a bit scared and overawed by all the space and freedom and feels threatened. I would give them about a week like this, then gradually let them spend increasing amounts of time together.

Make sure that you have several feed and water stations so that "Ooops, word censored!"ody gets left out. If one continues to be aggressive, I found that a water pistol is quite effective each time she pecks one of the others.

 

Good luck with it and don't despair - they generally get on together in the end!

[Tweety]

I would go with Carol U's advice - it is very early days yet, and it will take some time for them to settle down. Good luck.

[Egluntyne]

Ex batts can show an aggressive streak at first as they are used to having to fight for every morsel of food in the cage. Why not put out extra feeders and drinkers if these are the flash points.

 

It will settle.

 

If she is drawing blood, it might be a good idea to fit her with a bumper bit.

[alih]

I agree with the above really - when I brought my 2 home one was very aggressive towards the other for 3-4 days then suddenly it stopped. BUt they can't stand up for themselves at all really to start with and I took 2 months to merge mine with my old girls. Once they have settled in and grown in strength you could free-range them together to start with befor confining them.

[lex2408]

Thanks for all the advice/encouragement.

We have let them out free ranging together today and fingers crossed it seems to be ok.

It never crossed my mind that the 2 ex batts wouldn't get on (I don't know why as they didn't know ecah other before) I just thought the problems would be with introducing the existing and the new.

Anyway hopefully things will settle down soon, but I've ordered some Bumpa Bits to be on the safe side.

[Barkisland]

Oh crumbs! I kept my exbatts separated from the others for about 9 weeks, and merged them on Good Friday. All has been well until this weekend, when Gerty suddenly became the chicken from Hell! I cannot believe it, this sweet fluffy girl has suddenly started pecking lumps out of the others, and Ada in particular is suffering.

I tried to fit a bumper bit twice at the weekend, but she got it off straight away.

So I left them to 'sort it out', but today came home to find Ada bruised and blood stained, she has been cowering in the cube, and it looks like she hasn't been able to eat or drink all day. (There are 3 feed and water stations in the run, but looks like she hasn't dared come out of the cube).

I let them out to free range and Gerty was jumping on Ada's back, grabbing her by the throat etc. My poor sweet Ada. Her earlobe is swollen up like a little balloon, I think it's a blood blister. I rescued her and put her in the run alone so she could feed, and she has been gulping water down, poor thing must have been gagging for a drink.

So everyone is back in the run now, and Gerty has been put in the dog crate to cool off - I don't know what else to do? But I can't have her beating the others up like this. It seems so awful, especially after we rescued her from life in a cage, I feel so rotten.

Also, Gerty is laying, and whenever any of my others have been segregated they weren't laying, so this poses me another problem. Will she lay in the dog crate? How long should I separate her for?

Any advice will be welcome.