Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Week one Separated by Omlet run within WIR. Newbies kept in their section the whole week. Old girls allowed out to freerange through the back door. Week two Separate freeranging allowed and each group allowed into the others' section for a while, still kept separate. Yesterday Supervised freeranging outside. A few pecks from Maisie (I now know who is top chicken!) but the others weren't that bothered. Today Supervised all together in WIR. A few more pecks but nothing serious. Big girls went to bed, little girls shown the way to the pet carrier, now up on table beside Eglu. My plan is to keep them separate when I'm not around but let them be together when I can keep an eye on them. Going well so far . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 glad it's going so well Good Luck Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 That's great ANH, I know you were dreading introductions, I am so glad it is all going so well so far, slowly really is the way to go Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkl Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 nice to see the intros going well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 glad the intros are going well, great pics too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Glad its going well ANH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Very good - lovely birdies too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atsw Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Well done ANH . Two weeks seems to be about right. Our 10-week old Pekins are now fully mixed with the two big girls. Fifi still rules the roost, but the chicks just scatter if she approaches in an aggressive manner. It's been much better in recent days, I think perhaps Fifi has resigned herself to the fact the chicks are here to stay regardless of her actions. I go up to shut the Eglu doors each night, and so far Fifi and Anna (the big girls) have remained in the blue Eglu with all seven Pekins in the Purple one. Based on what a lot of people have written here I've been expecting them all to adopt just one of the two Eglu's, but perhaps the thought of sleeping with Fifi is still rather more than the Pekins can contemplate at the moment . Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Its like the chicken version of big brother xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 I'm glad its going well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 5, 2009 Author Share Posted September 5, 2009 Bit of successful freeranging today - a little pecking and chasing by Maisie but nothing drastic . Tried to get them onto the lawn for a pretty picture but they wouldn't go . My pretty girls "Mum! Is something supposed to happen when I do this ?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 Bless them, the look lovely together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 brilliant pictures So far so good eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 Glad to see that your introductions are going well :D Your new girls are very beautiful V I'm very Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 I love the last photo - so funny they are all so beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 17, 2009 Author Share Posted September 17, 2009 We're nearly at the end of week 4 . I accidentally left them all together in the WIR while I was at work yesterday - I hadn't put the run bits close enough together and there was a gap . All seemed well on my return though so I thought it was time to remove the Omlet run divider altogether. I've also taken away the temporary "corridor" so they now all use the same lower stable door to freerange. It's going to be nice not to have to poo pick the path . Still getting the odd peck and chase but it doesn't seem too bad. I might start the combined sleeping next week (work days are best as OH gets up pretty early). Been skip diving again . Not sure what this piece of wood was in real life but the girls seem to really like it . They're forever walking along it. I think Poppy looks like a gymnast on a beam . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 It seems to be going very well for you Vicki. I love what you've done with the run. How do you think the wire mesh is holding up? I cut up some branches yesterday and attached them with garden wire to the mesh. Haven't seen them use it yet. I want to put more up but need to find some more branches/wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Wow, has it been four weeks already!? Glad it is all going to plan Poppy looks very elegant on the high beam........is she so graceful in her dis-mount Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 17, 2009 Author Share Posted September 17, 2009 I can't believe it's been a month either . Ann, I've tried not to use the mesh as it doesn't seem very strong, tbh. The only thing that is resting on the mesh is the old broom handle and I'm going to monitor that. I think the weight of branches plus chickens would weaken it and it would probably snap eventually . I've used the cross bar to attach everything to so that takes the weight. The new piece of wood (it's quite heavy) is resting on an Ikea bracket screwed into the run. The other end rests on the shelf thing. Palmer, Poppy's dismount would disqualify her . There's a lot of bobbing then a mad flurry of wings . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Thanks for the info Vicki. I was a bit worried about using the mesh. Mind you my girls just don't seem keen on roosting high up at all. I might have to get hubby involved and see what we can rig up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 17, 2009 Author Share Posted September 17, 2009 Mine are never off the things . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Thats a fab photo ANH Glad they are now fully integrated, as you know I had my ex batts the same day as you had your new girls, and mine are now the best of friends (well mostly ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 ANH is that an eglu roosting bar set I can see as perches? AM very impressed with your perching gym and would love to do something similar once mine are merged fully. Any tips most welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Briliant photo! Perhaps mine are scared of heights? I've got a perche going across one corner at the cross bar height and the only time any of them have been on it is when we physically put them on it. I wonder if its because I hang up their greenstuff from it? Hmm.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 17, 2009 Author Share Posted September 17, 2009 ANH is that an eglu roosting bar set I can see as perches? It certainly is . Waste not, want not . I knocked one of the long bars off then put the short ends through the run mesh. Cable ties alone wouldn't hold it up so it's cable tied to a branch which is supported by the bench. You could screw it in though. Discovered a flaw in my plan though - it's right above the glug (you can imagine the rest ). I've tied on a piece of laminate flooring with garden wire to catch the poop . The bench provides a good solid support for one end of the branches. I've also used a couple of cheap B&Q brackets to support the shelf. There were also a couple of old fixings from a trellis on the garage wall which I've been able to use. Here's a huge photo link where you might be able to see it better. http://www.flickr.com/photos/17108187@N05/3928798048/sizes/l/ Ann, have they got branches to use to make their way up there? I find my girls use all the branches like the steps of a ladder. They occasionally fly right up there but more often use the steps up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...