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

[Snoxy]

Hi Everyone ))

 

I am hoping to get two new girls at the weekend...we got our Omlet girls back in April 08 and just love them to pieces.

 

Our Eglu is fenced off and our 3 girls have plenty of room to freerange during the day.

 

I have been reading a lot here about how to introduce new girls to older ones and wonder what you think of these ideas...am trying to use resources I already have as a starting point.

 

1) Put the 2 new girls into the Eglu when the other girls have gone home to roost on the first night???

2) Get up early the next morning and take out the 3 older girls and put them out to freerange...I normally do this before I go off on the school run...so not too much disruption?

3) Leave the 2 new girls in the Eglu run with food and water.

4) Take out the Grub and Glug for the older girls to use.

5) Close the Eglu door but leave the Eggport open for the older girls to use to lay their eggs...as they are not always very early layers...read that this has worked for others and we all know how clever our girls are so hopefully it could work here?

6) Choose bigger (if available) girls so they don't differ too much in size to our older girls...saw some POL girls at the weekend which were bigger than all 3 of mine...inc. Cleo

who is very buxom.

 

Your thoughts...advice would be very welcome.

 

Thank you.

 

Very best wishes...Lou X

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That sounds like a good plan . I'm in the process of introducing 2 to 3 and it's going pretty well so far . Are you able to leave your older girls freeranging all day? I'm not sure what would happen if you had to go out and put them together . Are you going to put them in to sleep together? I've heard a tip that spraying them all with a weak vinegar solution can help (makes them all smell similar).

[Patricia W]

I think it helps if they are similar sizes too. And I think you need to have spare accommodation available if needed. I'm trying to integrate 2 younger ones to my established trio and it's taking forever! Or so it seems.

 

Tricia

[Snoxy]

Thank you so much for your replies...

 

Yes...I'm able to leave my older girls freeranging all day...as normal

 

I had thought about putting them all in together to sleep and then splitting them up very early...obviously not having done this before I have no idea if it will work...and I have read that while this works for some it doesn't for others...but all chickens are different so I wont know until the time comes...yikes!

 

Thank you for the tip I'll try the vinegar and water...i have some in a bottle as I use it for cleaning

 

I have got a run for our rabbit which I could easily adapt...so the alternative accommodation is in place

 

Having read lots of stuff about integrating new girls with established ones I understand it's going to be tricky but lots of people here have done it so it can't be impossible which gives me hope

 

Have either of you seen lots of terrible fighting and blood in your efforts to integrate your girls?

 

Thank you.

 

Very best wishes...

 

Lou

[Egluntyne]

I would definitely go for the separate accommodation option if I were you. It will make life so much easier for you, and will mean that you can have a lie in! Can you borrow a hutch or similar?

 

**Click**

[Ain't Nobody Here]

All I've seen is a bit of pecking and attempted feather grabbing and some chasing. No blood or wounds at all, just a bit of bullying. They give up as soon as the newbie runs off.

 

I think the key is to have lots of escape opportunities for the newbies if they do have to be in together. Mine are often on the high perches, obviously staying out of the way.