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

[Space Chick]

I have had my name down with Hen Rehomers and BHWT as would like to add some ex-batts to my growing flock.

 

I have had an email today confirming a rescue date of the 22nd August

 

So, I will be rescuing 3 girls to add to my 7.

 

As some of you know, I only had my Wernlas girls on Saturday (ages 20-22 weeks). Please someone put my mind at rest that 6 weeks is enough time to integrate my newbies, before my retirement squad arrive, as they will need my "introduction wing" which means that my Wernlas girls need to be fully in with my original girls.

 

I know from reading the introductions section that 2-3 weeks is about normal. I was aiming (as its my first time!) for a 3-4 week integration.

 

Can I do it?

 

The fate of 3 hard working ex-batts depends on it

[Egluntyne]

Should be OK with careful management.

 

If not....you can always buy another Eglu.

[Space Chick]

Thanks Egluntine

 

Another Eglu I reckon I'd be in the divorce courts if I did after the amount I spent on ensuring my WIR was perfect

[mostin]

I think you should be fine, I'm sure you can borrow an emergency eglu of some kind soul on here if something doesn't go to plan .

 

My OH had to knock together our "woodlu" as he calls it, when mine overlapped last time .

 

Are you getting your girls from henrehomers? I got mine from their May rescue. I was reading on the *whispers* Practical Poultry forum , that they haven't got enough homes for all the girls coming out on the August rescue yet .

 

I am working hard on my OH, but it's not looking good. I have pushed things quite a bit this year .

[Space Chick]

I am getting them off Hen Rehomers Mostin

 

I had mentioned that I probably wouldn't be ready until September, if they haven't got enough homes for the August rescue that probably explains why they have contacted me early then

 

I suppose it is only 2 weeks early. My logic was that 2 months would be fine for integration.

 

Oh well, I love a challenge Lets just hope my girls are prepared to play nicely!

[mostin]

I am getting them off Hen Rehomers Mostin

 

I had mentioned that I probably wouldn't be ready until September, if they haven't got enough homes for the August rescue that probably explains why they have contacted me early then

 

I suppose it is only 2 weeks early. My logic was that 2 months would be fine for integration.

 

Oh well, I love a challenge Lets just hope my girls are prepared to play nicely!

 

I'm sure it will be fine. Just be prepared for the smell. I had to drive back from the rescue with the car windows down . They were sticky too . Mine weren't even in that bad condition and I didn't want to stress them out with a bath, but it took a week of fresh air for the smell to wear off.

 

I still fell in love on day one with my stinky girls though .

[Ms Marple]

Hi there! I had a similar problem a month ago when I took 4 ex-bats from Hen Rehomers ( at least I think it was them!) my new ones arrived on June 6th and I had rehomed 3 other hens from another Omleteer just under 4 weeks before so the pressure was on as I had never tried mixing two flocks before. Be patient and persistent it does work especially as the advice on here is so good - there is a permanent link somewhere with really good instructions. I am perhaps lucky as we have a large garden so free- ranging is easy. I closed off the eglu so they had nowhere to go to roost and two of the three quickly followed the others into the cube. The very timid one took a bit of persuasion - I put her in via the eggport. Now they are fine - one happy flock of 6. My ex- batts are now free -ranging with them too and are on their second night of all in the cube. Again I closed off the eglu and put them in once it is almost dark and the others are already in. They still go back to the eglu to lay each day.

 

I have offered to help Jules with a problem and so I need the eglu to become vacant asap.

 

Thinking back, the scariest moment was when I opened the eglu probably two weeks after the Cher"Ooops, word censored!"yls had arrived and one of my other girls charged in and was an awful bully. I remember thinking that it was never going to work - but it has. When I put porridge out now - I put it out in 3 separate bowls and it starts off with the Chr"Ooops, word censored!"yls together at one on their own. After a few mins they are all going from bowl to bowl quite happily. My other girls give the occasional peck and the Cher"Ooops, word censored!"yls just side step and get straight back in.

 

Sorry for such a long post but I am feeling very positive about the whole experience. My family laugh at me even more now as when I go out to feed them I take a bucket full of pellets as I have three feeding stations - I am just pretending to be a proper farmer!

[Ms Marple]

I forgot to add that yes they really smell strange but it goes after a couple of weeks and at first they were terrified of me and ran away whereas now they are the first to great me and insist on walking along next to me

[Space Chick]

Thanks Miss Marple thats great advice. I am doing twice daily mini treats along the "divide" so that they associate each other with happy food thoughts!

 

All the newbies went into bed early last night and Rose one of my oldies started getting really freaked out bokking and pacing the divide. I am hoping that this is a good sign that she was missing her new friends