Torrential rain flooding run

[Plum]

Yuk That showed them, they won't be back in a hurry. Johnsons spray is cheap and is said to work really well on the birds. You have to withdraw eggs for a couple of days though.

 

Have fun with the carpentry and post us some pics of the progress Good thinking having an introduction section.

[Plum]

All well in Chicken Cottage when I got home after dark and all in bed together. No signs of any trauma so hope it was peace in Chickenland today. I'm having some time off tomorrow afternoon so will find out the truth .

 

What about the rest of you?

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

What dreadful news Donovaa. Hope the treatment works really quickly. It's no fun at thia time of year when the days are so short and it's dark so early having to treat for red mite.

 

Glad to hear it's going well Plum. Ours have been together 3 full days now & tonight Aspro was in the main part of the cube rather than the nest area, so hopefully things are settling

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

Well, we took the weldmesh out completely from the run yesterday. No protection at all for any of them from eachother now.

 

Aspro continues with her tendency to stay in the cube for periods, but is venturing out more and is eating & drinking adequately. She readily comes out when one of us is at the run.

 

Pitsi' is more or less integrated so that she was with the 2 hens as they munched on the pecka ring together. Aspro is moving between areas where the hens aren't interested & eating/drinking. The main issue seems to be that as soon as one of the hens moves towards her she she doesn't wait to see what the intention is. She'll settle we think. The main thing is she's got somewhere to run & isn't being pursued.

 

The wonderful thing is that, having always had enormous difficulty to-date with catching Aspro when out (boy can she run & persist in doing so!! ) she was with Pitsi' today & as one of us caught Pitsi' in a crouch position, she stayed right in fromt of her & allowed herself to be scooped up with one hand (while Pitsi' was in the other!! AND she almost crouch.

 

We had somefriends over at the time & they had come out to laugh at us chasing the birds. They were almost as stunned as we were They said it was a lovely sight to watch

 

So, the flock isn't quite integrted yet, but we definately think the major steps have been taken and that it won't be long. When Aspro comes into lay (can't wait to see the egg colour ) we're sure it will complete quickly.

 

How are other folks doing?

[Plum]

I was just going to look for this thread.

 

Glad it is going so well. Aspro sounds a bit neurotic like my Motmot I have also taken down the divider today - one day behind you Behaviour is much like your girls with them squeeking and running off when one of the oldies walks towards them even though there is no intent to chase them. I have put up extra perches so they can jump up out of the way if they feel insecure.

 

This is little Eider now

No sign of crouching or eggs but she is growing her tail again - which is a bit swoopy her comb is well developed and her hackle feathers appear pointy. She has a girls poise and little legs. What do you think? I am so anxious.

 

Motmot her half sister is 6 weeks older and has little comb beats me.

 

Pigeon doing impressions of an exbat is curious about what is going on in the run.

 

and Grackle rises above it all

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

Plum, Mot Mot is GORGEOUS . What are you anxious about? How old is she?

 

Glad to see your intros are also going well.

 

We introduced Aspro to the the superglug today & she immediately started pecking the dripper . Theyre out at the mo so won't know whether she'll take to it or not till later. If she does she'll show the others & will also assume chicken of the year in our eyes.

[Chicken Shirl]

They all look like girls to me Plum, but I take your point about the well developed comb. Some hens have bigger combs than others though. Crackle has a lovely comb. How good that all the intro's are going well.

[Plum]

Thanks, FnF I am anxious Eider may crow Thanks for vote of confidence Shirl. Eider is 23+ weeks and Motmot is 29 weeks, definately a late developer.

 

Aspro is a star. Mine took to superglug ok but I've taken it out again now they are together as the middle nipple leaked again.

 

I've just got home and Pigeon was being naughty and chasing them so she got a squirt, then I gave her a bath as she'd sat on her softie egg and broke it. yuk! You would think she'd not bother laying when moulting I told her not to.

 

Top tip - don't bath and blow dry a chicken in moult unless you like a feather and dander shower.

[Chicken Shirl]

OMG can't stop laughing.

 

I think Eider would have crowed by now Plum if she was a he. They are gorgeous by the way.

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

Definately look like girls to us too! Eider's comb reminds us of Miso's. She was a Redcos.

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

Well, it's the first time we've had to update this properly.

 

We are so proud as henny parents. We think the flock might at last have integrated.

 

Monday we let them out and just had to take these photos . They say it all:

 

 

Yesterday, we let them out of the cube in the morning & there were no squabbles. Aspro was still cautious, but not flighty. She walked quietly past the back of Kilo & Krasi, saw the superglug on her way & gave it a peck . Then she joined Pitsi' at the other grub (clever girl )

 

Aspro's been sleeping in the nest area of the cube to prevent being pecked, but tonight she's in with the hens & Pitsi' is in the nest (probably claiming territory for her early morning egg ).

 

So, we think we've got there What do others think?

[Jools]

Wow quite a journey there FnF! And don't they look happy enjoying the sunshine and grass.

[Plum]

Sounds like it FnF. Those pictures are great, they look like a flock now.

[Chicken Shirl]

You should congratulate yourselves FnF. They look great together. What super photo's. When are you getting some more

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

You should congratulate yourselves FnF. They look great together. What super photo's. When are you getting some more

We are being EXTREMELY disciplined & sticking to the plan - each time one of the chooks dies, or it gets to 18 months from the last intro we will introduce 2 more pullets. The aim is to get up to the amazing figure of.....six

 

So, whatever breed we lose we replace, plus one more.

 

The plan is a light sussex next, but we hope it won't be soon as it will mean we will have lost one of these dear lovelies!

[cluckingmad]

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have integration

 

Little Ones went in the WIR with the hybrid girls last night without b eing separated for the first time - que very anxious chicken mummy watching from kitchen, ready to leap to action at the first sign of trouble

 

We both checked up on them all (at different times) and all seemed to be fine, so left them unsegregated last night - this morning all was peaceful, although there has definately been some feather pulling as the run is now more feathery than some of the older girls

 

Ah well, they still sleep in separate quarters, the big girls have the cube while the babies are still choosing to sleep in the cat carrier. Going to let them decide when to take the plunge and move in together methinks, we most defiantely have a virulent feather plucker amongst the hybrid girls (Esme's the current suspect as she's the only one not looking threadbare, and its not the moult now), whoever it is doesn't care about anti-peck spray and bumper bits don't stay on our girls for moret han 10 seconds so I officially admit defeat

[Chicken Shirl]

Congratutations Well done You must be very pleased and proud.

[cluckingmad]

BEAM! Am indeed, just wish I could curb this feather pulling! Tonight as many girls as could be got have been doused with anti-peck spray, so now I also smell

 

ps wouldn't mind if they had bog all to do in their run - they've got perches, a nice new shelf to jkump onto, a pecka-block and all sorts of fun distractions, yet they ignore all in favour of denuding each other! *sigh*

[Plum]

Well done acheiving integration.

 

Don't know about the feather plucking though it seems you have tried the usual options. You can get extra strong anti peck called Ukadex (?sp) which some swear by.

It's probably pecking order stuff but in case its feather eating why not give them a supplement if you don't already in case it's nutritional deficiency.

[laurmurf]

congratulations!

 

we / i should say hellymisscloud / has a feather plucker/eater. it isn't dietary, it isn't boredom (she free ranges all day), it's just habit! a very BAD habit! iI've tried bumper bits, but having got them on the other girls very helpfully took them off of the culprit! It seems to have reduced to plucking just her best friend (not very friendly) and not the others. Good luck with the various methods you are trying - let me know what works!

[cluckingmad]

Hmm, certainly worth a try - want my girls to look as lovely as they used to again.... now then, believe feather eating can be due to protein deficiency.... they get layers pellets with 16-17% protein already, what would be the best suppliment for them do y'reckon?

[Plum]

For protien I guess breeders pellets but you can give protien as tuna or cat food. I meant a mineral supplement like poultry spice or lifeguard.

[cluckingmad]

Ahhh, see - they already get poultry spice in their food and poutry drink in water... how hard can it be to break a habit?! mind you, I can't talk - I've bitten my nails for 30 years and can't stop

[Plum]

Bumper bit for you then

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

Well done Cluckingmad

 

Hope you get the feather pulling sorted quickly. They would choose the coldest point in the tear wouldn't they.

 

Our 4 came out for a free range today forthe first time this week & you wouldn't have known they'd been 2 separate pairs