How Quickly Does Albendazole Work?

[Phosphorus]

Based on several comments on the forum. I bit the bullet yesterday and let my growers (12 and half weeks) out with the big girls to free range. Had been getting fed up with alternating whilst the non free ranging group went mad to see the others out. They are both in runs separated by mesh but joined together.

 

They have all been getting along well, give or take the odd peck to show the youngsters who is boss (i.e. not them!) but seemed to be coping okay. Back in their seperate runs now - will keep them seperate for now whilst they are still on growers. Amazed that there wasn't more grief - definately the way to bring in new chooks - hatch yourself, much less introduction grief.

 

Think the main problem was trying to stop them all swapping houses - the big girls were very interested in the eglu and Lily the ara was desperately trying to get up the cube ladder! I had to put my foot down firmly

[Griffin]

Glad it went well Where are the pics???????

[atsw]

Glad it went well Where are the pics???????

Ah, well I had that problem this weekend too. I had the big girls and the chicks all free-ranging, and also the rabbit on it's first 'free to roam the garden' experience. It's hard work watching three hens, seven chicks and one rabbit all at the same time, especially over 180 foot length of garden. I didn't dare nip inside to get the camera for fear it would all go horribly wrong in the garden while I wasn't watching . Actually all went very well, and once it was over getting the chicks and chooks back into their WIR was easy, but catching the was quite another story! All safely tucked up in her hutch now though.

 

Andrew

[Phosphorus]

Agree with Andrew - I didn't dare leave. I had to change their water in both WIRs whilst they were all out together and was petrified I would hear a fight break out as my back was turned. Great to see them all out together though Just seems to be the odd "attack" to put them in order - not nasty just assertive!

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I'm not sure if my big chooks are looking at the babies & saying "when are you coming out to play?" or "are you my dinner?"..........they won't get the chance to find out for a few more weeks yet!!!

 

Sha x

[teri]

i have let my girls free range with my chicks, now 10 weeks, as well. the chicks were fine the big girls well behaved unfortunatley my broody turned into one evil mummy !!! she is a lot smaller than my light sussex, she's a silkie bantam, but she was picking fights with everyone she is still a very attentive mum, still bringing the chicks food and they still snuggle under her at night, although they really don't fit at all!

any suggestion as to how i can get her to relax would be great. if she is seperated from the chicks even for a few minutes she goes loopy!

[Phosphorus]

i have let my girls free range with my chicks, now 10 weeks, as well. the chicks were fine the big girls well behaved unfortunatley my broody turned into one evil mummy !!! she is a lot smaller than my light sussex, she's a silkie bantam, but she was picking fights with everyone she is still a very attentive mum, still bringing the chicks food and they still snuggle under her at night, although they really don't fit at all!

any suggestion as to how i can get her to relax would be great. if she is seperated from the chicks even for a few minutes she goes loopy!

 

Broodies are meant to get tired of the chicks at any time from about 6 weeks onwards - could be as late as 10 weeks. If she does your problems are over however sounds like she isn't fed up yet I separated mine at about 7 weeks as she was looking longingly at the others free ranging and I wasn't brave enough to let them out all together at that point (my broody was always bottom of pecking order!). She is now broody again (chicks are 13 weeks - actually has been for last 3 weeks or so -waiting for her to snap out of it!). Not much help I'm afraid - hang in there, sure she will soon desire a bit of independence.

[laurmurf]

i have let my girls free range with my chicks, now 10 weeks, as well. the chicks were fine the big girls well behaved unfortunatley my broody turned into one evil mummy !!! she is a lot smaller than my light sussex, she's a silkie bantam, but she was picking fights with everyone she is still a very attentive mum, still bringing the chicks food and they still snuggle under her at night, although they really don't fit at all!

any suggestion as to how i can get her to relax would be great. if she is seperated from the chicks even for a few minutes she goes loopy!

 

 

Enjoy the extra care she's offering them while you've got it! My broody, Babs, has gone right off the 7 week olds and laid her 1st egg post-broody today. We miss her keeping an eye on them when our backs are turned when they're free ranging, and she's the likely one to be hassling them!

[teri]

the chicks and mum are having their free range session, they get the mornings the big girls get the afternoon, and my broody is now picking fights with my sussex through the mesh on the run so i'm beginnning to think that her aggression is more to do with not liking my sussex rather than protecting her chicks!

she has been seperated from them for about 18 weeks now, i think intergration is going to take a long time!

[Tara.F]

Our chicks have been free ranging with the big girls almost from the beginning.

Well, I say 'with' In fact the biguns take little or no notice of them most of the time

Mummy was terribly aggressive at first but has mellowed now.

 

The chicks are eight weeks old on Saturday. Three of the boys are leaving for their new home tomorrow I shall miss them so much....why is it that the boys are prettier and so much more charismatic than the girls?

Mummy laid an egg two days ago but still fusses over her babies as before.....no sign of her wishing to go back yet except for ten minutes while she uses the nestbox

[smanners]

Our chicks have been free ranging with the big girls almost from the beginning.

Well, I say 'with' In fact the biguns take little or no notice of them most of the time

Mummy was terribly aggressive at first but has mellowed now.

 

Likewise here too except mummy chook hates and always has hated my ex batts.Sadly 2 have died now so my last one takes the brunt of her evil Sometimes the others step in to protect her and sometimes they are passive bystanders.

She started laying again after only 3 weeks and after 7 weeks she shows no signs of tiring of her babies

 

None of my hens and chicks like my 2 latest additions who are 7 weeks old and have not been reared by a broody (so have no-one to protect them).

I going to have to be very slow with their intros judging by the posturing and ranting outside their run thus far.

[teri]

well beauty and the chicks are on day two of free ranging with the big girls and it's beginning to look good...dare i say it .. beauty has laid an egg and is now more relaxed. i have left the doors to both the broody pen and the wir open and everyone is wandering wherever they please. i let them choose where bed was last night and one of my chicks snuggled up to my sussex in the big coop unfortunatley my 12 year old daughter put it back with mum waiting to see what happens tonight! to be honest seven 10 week old chicks and my broody dont really fit that well in the bedroom section of a standard rabbit hutch!