scrambledhead Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Hi everyone, We have an Eglu and 2 chickens, we have today been offered 2 ex bats to be collected on Saturday. We have been on the list for a while so don't want to say no even though its quite short notice. Have read with interest the posts on introductions and know we need to go slowly. But where to put the newbies short term? I am sure that I saw a thread a long time ago where someone had cleverly split the Eglu run and put possibly a pet carrier at one end? Any advice/ideas greatly welcomed as need to let BHWT know by tomorrow if we can take the girls. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Don't know about splitting an eglu run, wouldn't leave a lot of room, but you're right, they will need to be separate for about a month. Partly to allow introductions and partly to allow the new two to feather up and get a bit of strength without having to battle two healthy hens. I have a rabbit hutch you could let them sleep in (I'm guesing you're Surrey are but not sure) I use it for broodies and sick birds and the like, but it wouldn't solve your run issue unless you just fenced round the hutch and put some sort of roof to keep them in. BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Someone did divide the run with garden canes. I'll see if I can find the picture................. Ta da! Notice the 4 legged 'pushmepullyou' chicken on the left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 TaDa!! http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12688 Hope that helps Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 I got two ex batts about a month ago and I bought a secondhand small wooden coop and run that had been used for a hen and her chicks. It was given liberal spraying with poultry sheild and lots of Diatom. The ex batts are now sleeping in the other chooks house and I might leave them all in together tomorrow. Its taken about three weeks to get to this get to this stage. I found that it was the ex batts doing bullying but then they didn't know anything else. Nearly a month later they are different hens, they are always first t com and see what I'm doing and absolutely love free ranging. Apart from the odd peck they all seem to be getting on together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrambledhead Posted November 18, 2009 Author Share Posted November 18, 2009 Thank you everyone! It's just the short notice that has thrown me, but where there's a will.... Just got to have more chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 I'm sure I remember few months ago somebody saying that her "original" ex batts went mad when "new" ones were added...a reaction which was not displayed when healthy girls had been added to the flock, she thought maybe the small had brought bad memories/associations back to the girls and severely unsettled them................or am I losing the plot & dreaming the forum at night as well as all day ?! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 No Sha, that is definitely correct. I will see if I can find it...... http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=51938&hilit=+remember Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Thanks Debs, nice to know I'm not totally losing the plot then Good luck with the intros scrambledhead, as you know they are so worth the effort Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Good luck with the intros, why not see if you can get a rabbit hutch from Freecycle/Freegle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busybird Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 I added 2 POL hybrids to my 2 existing girlies in September. Prior to picking up the newbies I bought an extension to the Eglu run making it 4m long. I then divided the run with bamboo canes (ensure you put vertical as well as horizontal canes in as determined chooks can squeeze through surprisingly small gaps ). I put a borrowed cat carrier on bricks at the run door end with spare roosting bars inside. I had a grub and a glug in each half of the run. When I put the newbies in the run the oldies shouted for the entire day. My introductions were slow and a bit up and down. I had to rush them a bit as I was worried about the newbies sleeping in a cat carrier on cold nightsI was going on holiday for 5 days 2 months after we got them When I started to let them free range together I found close supervision and a water sprayer essential. When I started to let them sleep together in the Eglu I put anti peck spray on the newbies (although I'm still not sure how effective this was). Good luck with your newbies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrambledhead Posted November 19, 2009 Author Share Posted November 19, 2009 Oh dear! Too late now am collecting the new girls at 11am on Saturday Will let you know how things go.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busybird Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 Have you picked them up yet? Pictures ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrambledhead Posted November 21, 2009 Author Share Posted November 21, 2009 I have collected them and they are now installed in the garden with a hutch for home (thanks to BeckyBoo!) They have met our 2 ex bats through the fence and all seem quite uninterested in each other, I'm hoping that this continues but have just been to buy some anti pecking spray! They aren't too bald, are quite tiny but have laid one egg already Will try to get OH to get some photos soon... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
