Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Debb11]

I'll put you first in the picture to my dilemma.

 

I acquired two Bantams , A Male Malaysian Serama Millie Fleur and a Female Gold Dutch (not sure of ages) on Nov 6th 09 which was rescued from my boyfriends mate who didn't want them anymore, so they were kept FR up my boyfriends place for over a week while he built me a coop with a covered run.

 

I on Saturday 14th Nov have now got two female (i hope) Goldtops, not sure of ages of them, did ask at time but forgot, so e-mailed breeder to check, but no reply to day but i do know that they are young because one still sounds like it cheeps like a chick.

 

The Goldtops are in a old rabbit run but butted up to the coop so that the two pairs can see each other with separate food and drink in each etc.

 

My dilemma is i want to let them FR and meet each other properly, but none of them have been FR in my garden yet as they are all still quite new in their surroundings. Do i let them out together and hope their more interested in exploring than greeting each other or do i do it separately, but in the early evening before they settle down for the night.

 

The Goldtops are getting more friendly and eating from my hand compared to the Bantams who are both scared and he trys biting you if you try picking him up and if i try with her, they both make a racket any ideas to get their trust.

 

I've tried putting garlic in their water to make their poo smell a little sweeter, but not sure if they are drinking the water, has anyone got any other ideas to that one, all suggestions will be welcome.

[Redwing]

garlic powder in the food might be a better way of getting the garlic in to them

 

they are all quite small-ish birds so I would try to get them all out on a nice evening to FR together and see how it goes

 

Its also worth trying them together at night and separate in the day

 

Is the male Serama mature? if so we may well cut a lot of the aggro out but test the waters first and take it from there, it sounds like you have done well so far

 

Welcome to the forum

[Debb11]

Thanks for your reply.

 

I thought i would just fill you in on how things are going since my last post.

 

I let them all go FR a few weeks ago, with supervision, fights did break out between Judy the Gold Bantam and Buttercup the young Goldtop (15 wks +) over food, but Buttercup is greedy anyway. Judy ended up with a cut comb but she didn't let that stop her and she still wants to dominate the food even if its not hers i.e the growers pellets not the layers for her, but she is the 2nd Boss, Punch the Cockerel is the Boss and likes to chase the 2 young Goldtops Buttercup and Popcorn when ever he is near, is this normal?

 

Buttercup and Popcorn are now sleeping in the coop since yesterday, but with some pecking from Judy i understand that would be a territorial thing and Punch just likes to peck/chase them. I put a stop to it and had to get up early to undo the coop sliding door in case a fight did break out and the young one's could get out, only to find they all came out half a hour later and Judy went into the young one's area and was eating their growers pellets, moved her out but she still went in and stopped the young one's from eating, so just swapped them over and put the young un's in the coop and Punch and Judy in the run until i let them all out later.

 

I heard that yound birds can't go on the roosting bars just yet, is this true and from what age can they, i heard it's something to do with their health?