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

[Clur]

Florrie, sadly, has just died.

 

Really sad as she had really picked up after a week of antibiotics and was even starting to put on weight after her recent problems (http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=51362).

 

I went to check on them earlier and she was in the nest box looking like she was trying to lay, an hour later I went out to check again and she was gone. Gutted.

 

We're now left with the issue of Dilys being on her own. I am really nervous about introducing other chooks after reading some of the horror stories on here, but as she can't be on her own will have to bite the bullet.

 

Is it practical to get another 3 girls at POL? Would 4 be ok in an eglu? I am selfishly thinking ahead to when Dilys eventually goes ( she's coming up to 2.5years old, Milly died at 2, and Florrie now at 2.5 too).

 

Will Florrie be ok for a few days on her own? I want to make sure she's ok and it's definitely nothing contagious before we decide what to do for certain.

 

Got to break the news to the kids when they're back from school

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm really sorry to hear that, Clur . How sad .

 

I'm sure she'll be OK for a couple of days till you get yourself sorted.

 

You'll definitely be fine with 4 in an eglu (as long as they're not huge girls!). I have 5 and one eglu although the 2 babies sleep in a pet carrier for just now. That will be my extra nestbox when they eventually sleep together.

 

If you can make up separate accommodation for them it doesn't have to be a nightmare. I was really nervous about introducing newbies but it's actually been fine (so far ).

[Sammy]

Oh Clur, I'm so sorry. Sending you lots of best wishes when you break the news to the children.

[Clur]

I'd be looking at something Pepperpot/Bovan Goldine sized I think. Part of the nervousness ist's just the fact there's no way to really separate the run (that I can work out). I also worry about the increased noise - though guessing this is less of an issue once everyone's settled.

 

Hadn't quite expected to be having to make these sorts of decisions 2 years after getting the girls

[xScrunchee]

The noise does settle down pretty quickly.

 

What sort of run have you got?

[Clur]

It's the standard eglu run which feeds into a walk in aviary. The aviary on it's own is 6ft long by about 4ft wide but has only has one way in and out. Might be able to split it lengthways, but trying to work out the best way of doing that.

 

I'm giving it til next week to dig out all the woodchip and auboise in the run (which is on the patio), clean and disinfect it, then a few days just to check Dilys is definitely ok - the vet was happy with her anyway - then will find a local supplier of chooks.

 

Anyone aware of suppliers around Bracknell and the Thames Valley? I need to do a lot more research on how to do the intros as I am concerned about it.

[xScrunchee]

Could you possibly take off half of the Eglu run (the half with the door) and set that up inside the big run for the newbies (easy to get to them via the Eglu door ) and put the Eglu by itself into the big run for your older hen?

 

I might not be picturing your set up in my head properly so I might be way off

[Clur]

The run's pretty securely (and permanently!) attached and I dont think it'd fit properly in the aviary.

 

Spoken to hubby and we're going to try and get some omlet netting so that we can split the run diagonally so Dilys has the Eglu and run, and the new chooks have the other half of main aviary. We could potentially hang up the netting and anchor it so that we can let each side out of the run in turn when we start free-ranging. DH is going to see if he can source anything tomorrow. I'm guessing we may need to put thinner netting around the bottom to prevent any pecking.

 

Thinking about it over the next few days!

[Space Chick]

I'm sure you'll work it our Clur.

 

Sending hugs xx

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I bought some plant support mesh from B&Q (I think!). I also saw Klondyke selling it by the metre the other day. I've used it to make a temporary corridor for my old girls. It's got pretty small holes which they wouldn't be able to peck through.

 

The bonus is you can use it in the garden when you've finished using it for introductions!

 

[Clur]

That's a great idea, thanks ANH! Is it tall enough to separate the girls? Mind you, I can always get a bigger quantity and attach it to make it taller

 

We've got a couple of busy weekends coming up (weddings), so DH wanted to wait until that was done, but I think we're going to have to sort out companions for Dilys in the next week.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I have actually cut it in half now and made it twice the height - I just don't have a photo of that .

 

I threaded tall canes through both top and bottom and it stands up quite well with some canes pushed into the grass.

 

You might be able to get a wider version - have a look on the "buy by the metre" rolls of gardening stuff at garden centres. I bought mine ready packaged but I'm not sure if it's cheaper buying it by the metre - probably is!

[cluckingmad]

Hi Clur,

 

So sorry to hear about your little chook Lost my Millie this week so know exactly how you're feeling...

 

We added three ex-batts to our 4 omlet girls a year ago and everything went fine, no stropping or bullying at all - we kept them apart for a couple of weeks (the ex-batts were poories so had injuries to heal) before letting them out together in the garden, then we just separated the ex-batts with mesh... everyone completely ignored each other!!

 

Then we started putting corn down on either side of the mesh, so the girls got used to eating with each other, after a week of this we then bit the bullet and let them loose together After a short time of each little group going to bed in their own coups (the ex-batts were in a chicken hutch/run), one evening they all went into the cube together and the rest, as they say, is history

[Clur]

Thanks for the reassurances! I have some time off this afternoon and am starting to get the run ready - got the mesh etc to separate them now, have a spare grub and just need to get something for their water. I've not been able to source somewhere for newbies to sleep, so will be trying to be creative on that score. Hoping to get some new chooks this weekend so Dilys is back with company again

[BocBoc]

Sorry to hear of your sad loss, poor thing.

 

Good luck with your new ones

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I've not been able to source somewhere for newbies to sleep, so will be trying to be creative on that score.

 

Do you have an Argos near you? I got my pet carrier for under £15 and they sleep in it very happily .

[Space Chick]

Its a pet carrier that I use for newbies too

[cluckingmad]

and me makes three We have two cats, so two pet carriers... plus we have a feroplast indoor rabbit cage that we use if we get a poorly girl - easy to clean and means we can keep an unwell lady in comfort in the front room!

[Clur]

Well we separated the run ok in the end, and I was planning on using a plastic recycling box with roosting bars inside for a nesting box and the new girls (Arial the Sussex Star, Blodwyn the Gingernut Ranger and Cerys the Miss Pepperpot) prefer to roost cuddled up together on top of the box! They seem happy though

 

I am leaving them in the run for a week while Dilys still has the run of the garden, then I'll start putting them in the Eglu at night together and start letting them free range together. Hoping after about 3 weeks we might be able to get rid of the barrier in the run that separates them, but will see how it goes first!

[cluckingmad]

fingers crossed for them all - our new babies were outside today in a separate run, so the big girls couldn't get within 3ft of them... initialo interest then total indifference as the corn came out