jellykelly Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 I will be collecting 5 ex bats on saturday. I will be adding these to my 3 girls. I will return from the collection after dark on saturday and was thinking that I will be able to bed them down with my 3 hens. Now, with regards to sunday. Should I allow them then to free range together and hope for the best? Or should I try and seperate them. I'm thinking that I may just throw them all together and hope for the best - especially since the ex bats will out number my girls. Any thoughts please?? I am at home all day so will be able to closely moniter any 'nastiness' that may occur. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Article **here** about managing introductions. I would advise a period of separation before you start merging them to ensure that they don't bring disease to your existing flock. Also, many ex batts are very weak in the muscle and bone department and need a period of recuperation so that they can build up some strength to withstand the inevitable argy bargy that will occur as they sort out the new pecking order. Throwing them together is not advisable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legend21 Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 I dont think this is a good idea, it might depend on how poorly the ex batts are, if they are in a poor condition the other girls will be able to take advantage of them, my girls were not strong at all when I got them and they would not have stuck together either as they did not know each other. I think you need a bit of fencing while free ranging just to see how they are. I dont think my girls would have survived this cold if I had just got them as they had literally no feathers on them. Good luck wish it was me Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellykelly Posted January 11, 2010 Author Share Posted January 11, 2010 Ok - will they be ok sleeping together at night? I can seperate them during the day but only have one house (although two tiers). Should I seperate the two levels of the house too? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Trick, as putting them together at night doesn't really address the quarantine situation. As you have no other housing, I would suggest that you do separate the tiers as best you can and keep them apart so that the ex batts have a chance to recover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 I agree with the great advice already said, ex batts do need some time to build their strength up. It was only after 2 weeks of them being able to see the other girls that I allowed some supervised free ranging time, although they did integrate quite quickly after that, but that was their doing not mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellykelly Posted January 11, 2010 Author Share Posted January 11, 2010 THankyou for all of your advice. The plan is now.......... Thy will have the upstairs of the house (my other three will not venture up there). Upon letting them out in the morning - the old birds will free range whilst the newbies will be shut in the run. I imagine come 'lock down' I will physically have to put the newbies upstairs. Rungs will be a new experiance for them! Thanks again - I'm sure I will have millions of other questions once they all arrive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrambledhead Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Nothing to add to all the good advice but wanted to wish you luck, keep us all posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
