2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[Busybird]

My 2 newbies and 2 oldies share a divided Eglu run with 2 metres each and a cane divide between them. The oldies have the Eglu at one end while the newbies have a cat carrier (with a spare set of roosting bars inside) at the other end. Each pair has their own grub and glug.

 

Day 1: The oldies shout from the moment the newbies arrive to bedtime. The newbies seem a bit bemused by their behaviour.

 

Day 2: All is quiet. The oldies are allowed out through the eggport to free range. If the newbies get too close to the cane divide then the oldies run at them.

 

Day 3: Have to pop out for an hour during which time the oldies tunnel under the cane divide. When I return the oldies are at the cat carrier end and the newbies at the Eglu end. Let the oldies out to free range and rebuild the cane divide. No harm seems to have been done.

 

Day 4: Reasonably quiet day so decide to try to put all 4 chooks in the Eglu to sleep. When they have gone to bed lift the newbies out of the cat carrier and set them in the Eglu. Within seconds oldie has chased newbies out with some ferocity. Try again with same result so revert to separate sleeping quarters.

 

Day 5: Decide to let chooks free range together. Oldies chase and peck newbies who run away. Allow this to happen (ensuring no real damage done) until newbies hide behind shed and refuse to come out. Use broom to get them out and block shed. Newbies cower by shed. Oldies attack a couple of times. After about an hour decide to put newbies back in run. They hide in the Eglu and refuse to come out. After an hour or so realise that oldies are running at run (they cannot get in) every time a newbie pokes her head out. Put newbies back in 'their' end of the run and put oldies back in 'their' end. Newbies look very cowed and are perching on the cat carrier. One appears to have gone to sleep (head under wing).

 

So...

Is this normal? Am I trying to rush things?

I have read the FAQs on introductions but my newbies seem really unhappy. Should I continue to try to let them free range together? Any advice gratefully received.

[Space Chick]

I would have taken it a bit slower TBH. For both my sets of introductions I only had visability of the others for a whole week, and then had limited supervised joint free-ranging for a few days. All inappropriate behaviour resulted in a squirt of water to the naughty chook.

 

For my first set of intros, they decided to move themselves a bit quicker and we then had full integration in 2 weeks, this set has taken 3 weeks, which I still think is fast.

 

However, I put it down to the complete separation but seeing each other for a week.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Same here, I've taken it a lot more slowly than that (and we're still getting chasing and pecking ).

 

First week - separated within WIR. Oldies allowed to freerange, newbies kept in.

Second week - separate freeranging and still kept separate within run.

Third week - supervised freeranging and still kept separate within run.

 

Just started a few days ago to allow them out together with minimal supervision. The key seems to be to give the newbies somewhere to run to. I have both WIR doors open so they have a few options for escape.

 

Maisie has a go occasionally but gives up when they run away. I feel so sorry for the newbies, they're obviously terrified of her .

 

I still keep them separate if the run is shut and they're still sleeping separately.

[sjp]

mine have been free ranging together since early to mid July living next to each other since early August yesterday was the first time I 've been confident enough to leave them out in the garden without supervision its also the first time I've seen the cream legbar stand up to one of the big girls. so don't rush it let them make the moves it'll be less stressfull for you and them

[Eggy-Bread]

Hi, I've just integrated my 2 newbies with my 'old girl' - pretty much the same story as the other posts. My best advice would be to give it time. My girls achieved it over 3 weeks pretty much as Ain't "Ooops, word censored!"ody Here but with some supervised 'togetherness' within WIR (as the closer confines seemed to bring out the worse in 'Tilda), gradually increasing any time together - in and out of the WIR - as the week progressed. I always had my girls together at night. Matilda went to bed first, then let the newbies join her. I would spray mist a weak vinegar solution into the Eglu as this is meant to give them the same 'scent'.

There's no right or wrong way but like introducing any new pets to existing, just do what feels right but I would say monitoring is important as much as is possible.

Relax and give it time - good luck

[Busybird]

Thanks for the advice. I kept the newbies in the run yesterday while the oldies free ranged. This morning I let the newbies out for half an hours free ranging while the oldies were in the run (they were not happy at this!). I will continue to keep them separated for a while although they have to share the same, divided, Eglu run and keep trying to get through the cane divide (both sets want through to the others half .

 

The newbies look a bit happier than a couple of days ago but the oldies are still being very aggressive .

[katieD]

kept mine in seperate acc within wir for 2 weeks then gradual freeranging- did have an instant quite early on with them all together in the WIr with the new ones huddled and terrified in the corner so decided to slow things down.

 

mine are now all in the WIR + together after 3 weeks- although i still have the eglu and run built up within the wir- with the eglu run door and egg port open- for escape purposed!. although the new ones are still scared of dora, they feel safer knowing they can get the other side of the run i think a bit of a barrier-

 

 

first night i left them to sort out their own sleeping arrangments and they mixed themselves between the and ! much to my surprise as i had tried in week 2 to add the new ones to the cube and they came flapping out at 100 mph!

 

2nd/and tonight the 3rd night they are all in the together!- although old ones are hogging the nesting area

[chickencam]

I am lucky that i have a seperate run for my newbies. I have tried free ranging them together but each time the odler ones have jumped on the newbies and chased them. So I free range them seperately.

 

A couple of years ago I was in the same situation as you introducing 2 new to 2 old with a cane barrier. We went out once early on and when we came back the 2 sets had changed sides we still don't know how they did it

 

It does take time and we found bumper bits were essential wear for about a year. One of the introduced girls died about 6 months ago and since then the other one has completely integrated with the original 2. Up until that point it was still a bit of them and us but with reasonable harmony.

 

There are no quick fixes I'm afraid.