Nicola O Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Well, I've got a cube and two eglus and did have four chooks in each. During this year I lost Gertie and Myrtle who were both in the blue eglu, leaving Doris and Dora on their own. When they've all been out freeranging they normally go back into their own house/run without any problem but recently Doris and Dora seem to want to go in the cube, and have been really difficult to get in their own run. On sunday I waited out with them until it was getting a bit dark thinking that might make it easier, but no, they wouldn't go in and I was chasing them round the garden like a demented wotsit . I had the others in and all D & D wanted to do was to go in the cube - as it got darker and darker they started bokking like mad and were leaping up at the outside of the cube, wanting in. So...eventually I reach my question.....do I let them move. I don't mind if it's what they want and I'm sure six will be fine in the house - but my concern is the run. It has two extensions but is that big enough for six chooks (three of them are Orps.) considering that at this time of year they only freerange at the weekend. And why do they suddenly want to move ? Could it be that now the nights are colder they are feeling colder as there is only two of them in there? What would you do, your opinions are all welcome Nicola. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 I've been doing intros the last two weeks between my three girls and two new ex batts. Th ex batts have moved into the big house tonight, so I've left them to it, I'll probably put them back in their own run in the morning as I'm not their to supervise during the day and will maybe leave them all in the run together at the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 they're doing the intros for you! They want to be one flock - so this is the best way they can express it. I wouldn't worry too much about the run, as long as they're getting on really well and there isn't any agro. You could separate them during the day and let them sleep together but it seem a shame if they're all happy together! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Aww, leave them to it I say. i had 5 girls in the cube and 5 in a wooden house. As soon as both were put into the WIR the first night all 11 went to bed in the cube, I just left them there and they have stayed there happily ever since. Like laurmauf said, if they are happy together, they should be fine in the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola O Posted November 17, 2009 Author Share Posted November 17, 2009 They want to be one flock - so this is the best way they can express it. Perhaps Doris and Dora don't think that two is a 'proper' flock. Of course, you do realise that if they move house it leaves the blue eglu empty.......and I'm sure someone told me that it's against the law to have an empty eglu - they have to be full of chooks . Nicola Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 I'd let them sleep where they want to. At one point I had 14 or 15 sleeping in one cube whilst the other was nearly empty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 I've got three coops and they all make up their own minds eventually as to where they'll sleep. The nicebutdim Brahma girls have chosen the smallest coop to squeeze themselves into I use it for my growers, it has no roosting bars, but it's the most sought after coop If the ladies can't get to their favourite corner of my garage to lay their eggs, this tiny coop is used to lay in too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevP Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Yep, I guess the girls know best! (don't they always?!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola O Posted November 18, 2009 Author Share Posted November 18, 2009 Well, I've gone and done it....I've just moved them over. Doris is top chook and Dora her understudy, and three of them in the cube all looked a bit worried at first when I placed D & D in with them, and there was a little bit of clucking and Lily tried to get out through the closed front door. I can imagine them all saying 'eh up girls, best behaviour, the boss is here' . The only one who didn't seem at all concerned was Beryl, she just shuffled across the bars, tucked her head under Dora and went back to sleep , she didn't even move when Doris climbed over her.. I'll pop out again in half an hour and check they have all settled again. Nicola. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Glad it all seems to be going well - fingers crossed for a nice quiet night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola O Posted November 19, 2009 Author Share Posted November 19, 2009 All was quiet last night when I went out to check them. I've watched them like a hawk since letting them out this morning and everything seems fine. There has been a couple of peck at Beryl, mainly from Doris, but apart from that it all seems great. I put the feeder in from the eglu so they now have two grubs and there isn't any guarding of food. The original cube girls are wary and are keeping their distance but they aren't going up on the the perchers out of D & D's way so I don't think they can feel too threatened. So now that the move seems successful it leaves me with an empty eglu......now, what to do ...... Nicola Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
