Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[chuckmum6]

How do chickens who live in different runs get together when free ranging?

I have a happy little flock who live in a cube, but that itch for more hens has been surfacing and I am debating getting a eglu for a couple more. If I housed these separately would they fight if they were free ranging with the others, my feeling is yes, but I have never kept my flocks separately.

My main joy of hens is watching them rampage my garden digging up the borders and dust bathing in my pots! I don't think I would want more if it meant that they couldn't do this. Any advice welcome from equally chicken mad folk!

[tom123]

If the 2 groups had been side by side for a while then they would squabble a little but not an awful lot from my personal experience

[Egluntyne]

That's right. If you supervise the free ranging all should go reasonably smoothly. Inevitably there will be the odd little spat.

 

You may well find after a while that they all want to bunk up together anyway......and then you'll have room for a few more.

[beulah59]

I added three new hens to my brood last Thursday ... left the newbies enclosed but in sight for three or four days, then let them take turn and turn about free ranging the garden. Today I let them all out together ... establishing who was top hen took 3 mins with a few minor skirmishes down the order ... and tonight we put them all in together! I didn't plan to do it this fast, but it was going so well it seemed a shame to keep the newbies cooped up in a small run

[laurmurf]

i have two separate flocks in the two cubes but they free range together very very happily, then at bedtime go to their separate bunks. I've only had one move across and that's Dot who is a bit of a strumpet and madly in love with Basil, who returns her affections. She's moved into his cube permanently, but I did try flinging her back into her own run and flock and she's happy enough there... although I did notice her launching herself back at Baz for a bit of 'good luvin'

 

We're quite happy with the situation, so don't mind the two flocks.... although actually i have three flocks 'cause Ellie's dinosaurs live in the walk in run, but they don't free range with the other two lots.