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

[Hellen]

Hi, I have just bought an eglu (purple) which I put up at the weekend. Yesterday I took possession of three ex batts. I have never kept chickens before and so was surprised at how vicious they can be to each other. My question is this: My three girls have to get along in their eglu (i will buy the extension run) and will spend most of their time in their. I will let them free range when I am around. One of the chickens - Lilly (already nicknamed savage) pecks the other two and prevents them getting to the food and water. One Victoria tries and manages to get some whilst litttle Margo doesn't come out and hasn't had anything. When she does attempt comong out she is attacked by Lilly and sometimes Victoria (the noisy one). How do I ensure that all get food and water and how do I stop the bullying? Glad I got them though even if they are scared of other birds.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Welcome to the forum Hellen, and welcome to the mad & sometimes nasty world of chook keeping

 

If you put out several food & water stations, Lily won't be able to chase the others off of all of them & everyone should get some food...........if Margo hasn't had any food & water at all, try giving her a small amount in the eglu or just outside the eglu door in the run on her own.......distract Miss Stroppy Knickers at the gate end with some corn or hoik her out for a short while whilst the others get some feeding done...not a long term solution, but may help in the short term .

 

You could try squirting Lily with a water spray when she attacks Margo & Victoria, apparently this is a very simple & quick way to retrain their nasty little habits......unfortunately these damaged little girls have absolutely no manners nor social graces, it was each for herself in the cages.....mine are now feisty but fairly well mannered in our flock

 

I hope all goes well in the next few weeks as they get their health & strength back, the sooner you get the extension up & running, the easier things will become

 

Sha x

[jimnpaula]

Hello and welcome,

 

I have ex bats as well and quickly bought another set of grub & glug, and I still think I need more (although I may go for traditional types this time)

 

Enjoy your chook keeping, there's plenty of advice here - and here's one for you: when the time comes you need a run 'converter' and not the extension, so it straightens out the sloping end of the run (then you add an extension, and another, and get some more chickens, then you get a walk-in-run.....)

 

Paula

[Lavenders_Blue]

My ex-batts were exactly the same when I got them nearly 2 weeks ago.

 

They were all very polite for about the first 24 hours but then Bella started to assert her authority and guard the food/water so the others couldn't get to it.

 

I rushed out and bought more feeders/drinkers (large bird food cage cups are great and very cheap) as she could only guard one at a time so the rest got food and water.

 

I tried to let them get on with it as much as possible as they need to sort out the pecking order amongst themselves but I found squirting her with a spray bottle did wonders when she was being particularly viscious.

 

Have patience - it will all calm down! Nearly 2 weeks later they all now get on famously and only the odd scuffle occurs when one of the bottom hens is deemed to have overstepped the mark!!

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Enjoy your chook keeping, there's plenty of advice here - and here's one for you: when the time comes you need a run 'converter' and not the extension, so it straightens out the sloping end of the run (then you add an extension, and another, and get some more chickens, then you get a walk-in-run.....)

 

Paula

 

Ooops sorry I missed the converter/extension bit didn't I , reason being DH rushed out on the Monday morning after we got our original girls on the Saturday afternoon & bought a roll of weldmesh & made our own extension.......much quicker than getting the converter from Omlet (and cheaper too )

 

And Paula, you are learning about chicken maths and addiction then.........

 

Sha x

[jimnpaula]

And Paula, you are learning about chicken maths and addiction then.........

 

Very true, I am holding off on more chooks although I can see the lovely breeds and understand why everyone gets them. I had to stop myself bidding on a stone hot-water bottle for them though (even though it was only a short drive away I keep telling myself that they won't need it.) I've got my plans for an extension too. I've already spent a small fortune on them, must... resist... not... enough... credit...

 

P

[poachedegg]

For extra feed stations for our ex batts (as a temporary measure) we find these galley pots very useful:

 

 

Can be bought on ebay.

[veggiemad]

hi!

your problem soudns identical to thepost i put out about 6 weeks ago when we got our exbatts. They had me in tears and i almost sent onion(the viciuos one) back to the bhwt!!!! i got loads of advice on here and did it all- more feeding stations, antipeck spray (from pets at home- got budgies on the label!) , water spray for the bully and let them have as much FR time as i could. I stuck with it and now they are fine. Still abit of bullying but nothing compared to what we had.

 

Stick with it- chickens are fab. We've had ours only 6 weeks and have already bought our first cube and sold our eglu, planning more hens after the cold has gone- in the new year.

 

Good luck, it takes a brave woman to watch the fighting, but it gets better.

xx

nb- and igot those feeders from beya- they are fab and definately the cheapest by far, although the fodd gets wet if not totally under the cover!

[Chook n Boo Mum]

For extra feed stations for our ex batts (as a temporary measure) we find these galley pots very useful:

 

 

Can be bought on ebay.

 

I have about 20 of these & still use them as extra water stations, feeders, grit pots......think I may be addicted to them as well, every time I see them at a show at a good price I head over to them....DH just goes

 

Sha x

[poachedegg]

For extra feed stations for our ex batts (as a temporary measure) we find these galley pots very useful:

 

 

Can be bought on ebay.

 

I have about 20 of these & still use them as extra water stations, feeders, grit pots......think I may be addicted to them as well, every time I see them at a show at a good price I head over to them....DH just goes

 

Sha x

 

*cough* *I'm Wild Mum......and I'm am addicted to ....galley pots*

[Chook n Boo Mum]

 

Sha x