How Quickly Does Albendazole Work?

[sadietoo]

Hi, I've had my two chooks since Christmas. Just recently they have both been broody and I have had to resort to a dog crate. Do snapped out of it pdq -ly but Doodle can't make up her mind whether she still wants to be broody or not. So yesterday I put her back in the crate whilst Do free-ranged in the garden....and that was when I really realised how dependent they are on each other. Do would not budge away from the dog crate....and it occurred to me that if I lost one of them the other would be absolutely desolate. So I am wondering if I should try to introduce a third now? Unfortunately I don't know what make or model number my existing pair are, as they were bought for me as a present by my DD and sourced for her by a friend of a friend's mother. I believe they are about nine months old now, and they still lay really tiny eggs so I think they must be some sort of bantam cross...or small breed....so I was thinking of adding a Bantam. I work four full days a week, so in the winter months there will not be much opportunity for free-ranging. I have an eglu and standard run and no space for a run converter. So, my questions are, will it be ok to keep three smallish chooks in the eglu run? How easy is it to get one chicken used to two existing chooks? and finally does anyone have any experience/knowledge of good breeders in the West Sussex/Hampshire area?

 

Many thanks for your patience if you've managed to get to the end of this. As ever, your thoughts and advice will be much appreciated!!

[Olly]

Not sure about the size issue. I wouldn't have three standard hens without a converter, but if yours are bantam-sized then it may be ok. Someone who keeps bantams will probably be along to answer this one!

 

It is possible to introduce one hen to two existing ones, but it's quite hard work and you'll need a separate run at least for the first few weeks (or you'll need to divide the Eglu run with canes or something). I'd be inclined to wait until something happens, not being negative but it's in the nature of things! and then add two more together.

 

Sorry, can't help with breeders - have you looked on the FAQs?

[Patricia W]

I have 3 bantams and tried at first to keep them in the eglu with a standard run, but they began to really fight. They now free range all day every day and it's stopped. Before I made the decision I bought an extension but keep that in reserve now.

 

I think you'll be better getting 2 rather then trying to introduce a single hen to an established pair. Good luck!

[Hen Watch]

Having introduced 1 hen to an existing flock, it went OK but I'd not do it again I don't think. If and when my existing lot "pop off" I'm thinking I would wait until I was down to 1 hen again. But then that's just what I think I'd do at the moment (head ruling heart and all that).

 

If you go for another, you will need some separate accomodation for if things turn nasty. We needed to put Stella in the children's wendy house to keep her safe in the day. There is a good bit on slow intros in FAQ.

[Egluntyne]

Can you post a picture of your existing girls so that we can hazzard a guess at the make and model no?

 

Introducing 1 to an established pair is possible but tricky. I'd go for 2 myself.

[sadietoo]

Many thanks for all your input. .....You have convinced me to wait until I need to substitute and then add two.. I can't have four because I can't let them free range all day and there isn't enough space where the Eglu is sited to add anymore to the run.....now a Cube in another part of the garden might be a solution.......

 

Sorry Egluntine...in spite of reading the instructions many times, I am absolutely and completely dense when it comes to adding photos to posts....I will keep perservering but don't anyone hold their breath

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Hi Sadie, I'd go with the cube in another part of the garden and another 2 chooks personally.....and keep the eglu on for intros for the foreseeable future at least !!

 

If you haven't space in your garden to extend the run lengthways with an extension, would you be able to build a smallish walkin run which gives you extra width rather than length? Sorry, am I helping at all ?

 

Sha x