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

[dippy bird]

as you know, I have recently adopted 4 ex bats.They have their own coop and have a seperate run from the original girls.I let them free range most days for an hour or so seperately.I was just wondering when I should start letting them free range together?

[quickcluck]

As long as you are there to supervise with loaded waterpistol, i'd say whenever you wanted

[Egluntyne]

Article **here** about managing intros.

[dippy bird]

Might let them all out later on and see how they go. Will try and get some pics and post later on ..

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I had the decision forced for me as one of the Orpies decided to hop into the batties fenced off area.......I whipped the fencing away so "Ooops, word censored!"ody was hemmed in & they've been fine ever since, thankfully ..........** we need a relieved/thankful smiley **

 

Sha x

[dippy bird]

I don't know about a water pistol- I think I need a super soaker!! It was awful! They'd only been out a minute or two and they started full on fighting! Those bats are really feisty! I have had to put them back in their run as I was terrified that one of them was going to get hurt.They were hanging on to one anothers combs and I just couldn't stand it. Maybe try again in a week or so.....

[quickcluck]

Oh no! Poor you.... what a shock.

 

But if you dont try you'll never know..... better luck next time Perhaps another week off gazing at eachother from afar will do the trick!

[dippy bird]

It's such a shame as I want them all to be in the big run together.They are next to each other so it isn't like it's a big shock to them - you know -" where have you all come from?" kind of thing.

I was glad my oH was here with me as he pulling them off each other while I was trying to separate them with the garden rake!! I really hope my neighbours weren't watching out of their upstairs windows They think we are mad as it is,as we are always talking to them!!

[quickcluck]

My intros usually take 5weeks max. The eye each other up through the fence for a week or so, then have heavily supervised 'play' time for as long as it take. After a week or so of play time I let them in together just before bed time and then see where they choose to sleep

[Chicken Shirl]

Oh dippy Bird, what a shame. I don't know much about this sort of thing as all mine have come as chicks and just been there with the older birds from the word go. I am sorry. Everything will be strange to your ex batts. So glad OH was there for you. What a shock you must have had. Hope you had a wee dram on tap

[cluckingmad]

Hi Dippy Bird - a trick we used with our intros was throwing some corn aroudn the dividing mesh so all the girlos had trats in each others company - its supposed to help them associate each other with nice things...! Our exd-batts were poorlies so had various injuries to heal before we mixed them so they were apart for about 2 months, still out in the garden together but separated... in the end they all just decided to go the bed together and that was that

 

If only my current intros were as simple But then I will go and buy 4 wernlas babees at 14 wks and then rehome three 25 week olds within a month of each other (my garden is now full of chickens - heaven!)

[dippy bird]

I will try the corn trick tomorrow.I did that last time and it seemed to help.

On a different note - why is it,the bats have pulled all of the straw out of the nesting box - used it as a loo, and are now all fast asleep in it??

[Chicken Shirl]

Hi, not used to luxury are they. A bit like Crocodile Dundee. He slept on the floor of a five star hotel bedroom. Must be the same for them.

[dippy bird]

aww, been out with the bats today and gave them a bit of apple - they behaved like normal chickens and bombed round the garden chasing each other for a little piece!! First time I've seen them run since we got them.Made my day.

[Chicken Shirl]

That's great Dippy Bird. I can see the smile from here.

[cluckingmad]

Well, thats brought a smile to my face after a rotten day at work