Chicken boarders

[Space Chick]

I have had my Ex Batts for a week and a half now, and am wondering when I should allow them to free-range.

 

I think that they are ready now, but just wanted to get advice.

 

Also, when do you think I can start joint free-ranging with the existing lot?

 

They can see each other, as they are in a separated area of the WIR, and there has been daily squaring up to each other at the divide.

 

I follow all the Intro rules (as they worked perfectly when I integrated my Wernlas girls) and give treats at the divide to associate good things

 

The Ex Batts did have some time with some of my milder mannered girls in the extended run (unintentionally ) and that went without incident, however, I think there could be some issues with my Hybrids that are feistier. When will the ex batts be strong enough. In all honesty they seem fairly strong now.

 

Thanks

[Egluntyne]

I'd let them free range from now, but maybe not with the others for a little while longer, or until they are strong enough to stand up for themselves if there is a skirmish.

[Space Chick]

Thanks

[Chunky_Monkey]

I started letting all my girls free range together a week after the ex-batts arrived. The 'posh' girls free ranged around them so they could see them, and there was quite a bit of squaring up between the bars. We were told that if you let them out together in the evening it might be better because they would be dozy. However I don't think it made much of a difference, at times it was like a cock fight!

 

We found that the ex-batts easily stand up to our original lot, and up at the top of the pecking order. Even our smallest and weakest ex-batt had a few fights with our big Nellie.

 

After a week of free ranging together in the evening, they started coming out all day together. There's only the occasional squabble or chase now and then.

 

Hope it all goes well

[sophia_chicken]

Your ex-batts will definately stand up for themselves..... they are used to fighting for everything they get! Its best to let them free-range together just before dusk when they are all feeling pretty dozy and will take themselves off to their respective beds....

 

Its hard but don't try to intevene in squabbles unless blood is drawn..... its chicken nature to sort out a pecking order.....

 

Congratualtions on getting Ex-batts... they are usually much tamer and laid back than pedigree birds..... and watching their characters develop is fascinating!

 

SOPHIA

[mostin]

I'd let them free range from now, but maybe not with the others for a little while longer, or until they are strong enough to stand up for themselves if there is a skirmish.

 

I agree totally. my ex-batts looked pathetic but it was all my other girls who came off worse whenever there was a skirmish. They are feisty little girls, despite their lack of feathers i find.

[Space Chick]

Well, the rain stopped, so decided to let the Ex Batts out when OH came home from work.

 

We opened the door for them, and they came up to the open door and peeped out, but only Polly was brave enough to venture out.

 

Barbara and Ace were not prepared to take the brave step, just looked out and bokked nervously at Polly as if to say "Come back in!!"

 

Polly went in after about 10 minutes, so we shut them back in and let the other girls out, who of course came charging out like the lunatics they are

 

Only this time, Barbara, Polly and Ace were watching them with amazement

 

We will try again tomorrow if its dry

[mostin]

Awwwwwwww, bless. Better luck tomorrow

[Space Chick]

Well they are all being brave girls now, and will happily come out to free range.

 

I decided as both OH and I were supervising, to allow both lots of girls to free-range together.

 

BIG MISTAKE!!

 

The Ex Batts turned EVIL! Barbara who is bottom chook amongst the ex batts took it upon herself to attack everyone

 

Leela, who is my mildest mannered baby, and probably bottom chook amongst the established girls decided she was going to fight back

 

There was lots of water squirting to stop aggressive behaviour, Barbara ended up drenched.

 

Needless to say, we promptly got both sets of girls back in their own runs, and have decided we need to think of a new approach.

 

We thought as they are not squaring up at the divide anymore that it would be OK.

 

I think that if Barbaras aggression continues, I may need to bumper bit her.

 

Its ironic really, as Barbara was the one who was attacked by Polly and bled, which resulted in Polly having her bumper bit.

 

Thankfully, no blood was drawn today.

 

Oh the joys of chooks hey

 

Thankfully, we are in no hurry to get them integrated so we can take it S-L-O-W-L-Y!!

[jkl]

crikey - i'm beginning to think that we have been so lucky with our introductions.

 

I guess patience is the key...

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Help, that sounds like a gunfight at the OK Corral . Maybe leave them divided for another week? Mine have been separate for 12 days and we didn't have too much pecking this evening when I let them all be together.

[Space Chick]

I think I will take a step back and continue with treats at the divide for a while longer and separate free range sessions.

 

I feel guilty though as it means my established girls get less free range time

 

Mind, better that than carnage

[beulah59]

We only have our four new ex-batts ... wondering when to let them out into the garden? At the moment, we have to put them up into the loft at night, as although they gather by the ramp, they don't go up to roost! I think perhaps we'll wait until I'm more confident they'll find their own way home ...

[mostin]

Oh space chick that all sounds so familiar .

 

Try not to panic. My first normal intros, went so smoothly and quickly but the ex-batts were so aggressive and gave my girls hell.

 

It all ended up fine in the end though, with no blood shed and no bumper bits, just lots and lots of water sprays .

 

I found the trick, was the same as a normal integration, fence-line feeding and then group free ranging, just sooooooooooooooo much sloooooooooooower. It took about 8 weeks in total. I thought it would never happen, but they are finally all happily together.

 

You may find that some of your ex-batts start behaving before the others do. These girls got to free range with my old girls before the real troule makers were allowed in, it wasn't an all or nothing thing.

 

Good luck, and keep us all posted.

[Space Chick]

Good idea

 

Ace was well behaved so I may let her out with the hybrids, and let bumper bit Polly out with the pure breeds, and Barbara will just have to learn her manners

 

I hadn't though about a divide and conquer free range approach. Thanks Mostin

 

As long as they are integrated by Christmas it will be fine, as we are away for Christmas and MIL would not cope with 2 runs

[mostin]

No problem,

 

I found it works the other way too, as my lowest ranking old girl then started getting bolshy with the most well behaved of the ex-batts , so I just picked the most well behaved girls of both groups to play out together, and then gradually added more as the behaviour improved.

 

Obviously they all got a chance to play out at some point, but not all together. It was like chicken chess .

[Space Chick]

Obviously they all got a chance to play out at some point, but not all together. It was like chicken chess .

 

I haven't done that complex manoeuvre of pieces since I was at school, it'll do my grey matter some good

[mostin]

It certainly kept OH and me on my toes , and I am a wicked shot with a water pistol now too .

[Space Chick]

Well, I tried an alternative approach today, the Mostin chess approach.

 

Let Polly out with the Wernlas girls, no skirmishes

 

Then, let Ace out with the hybrids, no skirmishes

 

Then let Barbara out with Peri, Grace and Rose, no skirmishes

 

Let them all out (which was unintentional, lets just say there was a pile out )

 

One minor skirmish between Donna and Barbara and another between Polly and Rose but instantly stopped on squirting Also squirted OH a few times too, well the temptation was just to great

 

I will continue with Mostins method, as so much better than the last experience

[xScrunchee]

After two and a half weeks of me picking up Pearl, Tallulah and Kev-they all free range together but when in the run, Brandee and Jasmine are kept seperate and Rose is allowed in with the newbies as she is ok with them.

 

Bedtime is great fun as Rose isn't willing to sleep with the new girls so I have to put Brandee and Jasmine in the Eglu with Rose, Pearl and Tallulah in the cat box and Kev in his shed.

 

I don't mind how long the intro's take-would rather go slow and get it right than rush things and it goes horribly wrong.

 

Once Jasmine launches an attack on Tallulah-the other two old girls steam in and Kev just stands there squarking!!

 

For the next couple of weeks at least, we will keep things how they are and see how it goes

[mostin]

Well, I tried an alternative approach today, the Mostin chess approach.

 

Let Polly out with the Wernlas girls, no skirmishes

 

Then, let Ace out with the hybrids, no skirmishes

 

Then let Barbara out with Peri, Grace and Rose, no skirmishes

 

Let them all out (which was unintentional, lets just say there was a pile out )

 

One minor skirmish between Donna and Barbara and another between Polly and Rose but instantly stopped on squirting Also squirted OH a few times too, well the temptation was just to great

 

I will continue with Mostins method, as so much better than the last experience

 

So glad things are going better

[Space Chick]

Same again today

 

Only a few minor disagreements between Donna and Rose with Polly and Barbara but nothing major.

 

Ace has been exemplary in her behaviour, as have Sarah-Jane, Peri, Leela, Romana and Grace

 

I'll get there