ValerieR Posted April 25, 2010 Share Posted April 25, 2010 Got 3 new girls this morning to go with the 2 pekin bantams I have had for a fortnight. The pekins are close buddies, virtually joined at the wing. I got 2 beautiful buff plymouth rock bantams who were in the same flock, and a light sussex bantam from another flock. (They were on the same farm but kept separately.) Piled all 3 in a cat carrier and brought them home. Not a peep out of them in the car. The farmer said they would be fine - just to pop them in altogether - so I did! Ten seconds of utter shocked silence then all hell broke loose, with the pekins rushing and pecking at the new girls. I opened the door and they all fled into the garden where I left them to FR all for a few hours. No hassles. Two friends who have kept chickens for a long time came round and suggeted I put them in the eglu one by one. First the buff plymouth rock,(Helen) then ten minutes later I added Janice the lavender pekin. They pootled around and ignored each other. 15 minutes later I popped in Sheila the other buff plymouth. Again no worries. 15 minutes later in went Joyce the black pekin. Then shortly after Attila (the hen) the light sussex. Miracle! They are all pottering and pecking at mixed corn and mashed potato, enjoying the sunshine. No fighting! I have to say I picked the new girls because they seemed docile when the farmer picked them up. He picked up a few others which I turned down because beautiful as they were, they were flapping and freaking out! They will be in the eglu for a few days until I get my WIR built but they will be out in the garden plenty until then. Will post pics once I get my camera! If anyone in Scotland wants to pm me I will tell them where I got the birds - the farmer had many many different breeds and they were less than half the price I paid for the pekins at a place which is advertised all over the internet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted April 25, 2010 Share Posted April 25, 2010 I really hope they stay settled for you. It is good to find somewhere local to get your chickens from that you know you can trust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValerieR Posted April 25, 2010 Author Share Posted April 25, 2010 Am sitting wathcing them - still happy. One of them laid an egg on the grass in the run! Silly girl. Am sure they will work out where to go soon enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 25, 2010 Share Posted April 25, 2010 Just keep an eye on them, it could be too good to be true I've taken that aopproach a few times, once it did not pay off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted April 25, 2010 Share Posted April 25, 2010 I'd keep an eye too, I integrated 2 girls too quickly (1 was ready, 1 wasn't), and the quiet one was attacked viciously which resulted in me needing to isolate her until she recovered, and then gradually re-integrating her once she was better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValerieR Posted April 25, 2010 Author Share Posted April 25, 2010 Don't worry I have not let them out of my sight all day! Just had a neighbour over who used to keep around 50 hens on his farm ... he said they all look happy and settled and not to worry .... will keep them under close surveillance for a few days though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValerieR Posted April 26, 2010 Author Share Posted April 26, 2010 Well they all went to bed fine last night and they were in the run until 1.30pm and now they are wandering all over the garden in a wee flock. No pecking at all! And got 3 eggs today although it is hard to tell whose is whose! At one point the light sussex ran a bit of a distance and was immediately followed by the 2 buff plymouths. The pekins were comica,l flapping their wings and running as fast as their wee legs would carry them to catch up with the slightly bigger girls. They have the run of quite a big garden but I am sitting here watching them in about 1 sq metre of space, excavating the bark from the borders, side by side.. aaaww! I think I have just been very fortunate in getting very laid back placid girls and realise that things might have turned out very differently. Or maybe it is always easier with bantams? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickyhazel Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 Possibly, as the bantams are small they might be a bit intimidated. Size doesn't always count though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValerieR Posted April 27, 2010 Author Share Posted April 27, 2010 They are still all happy. So I will shut up now and stop sounding so smug! My next lot will no doubt be a complete NIGHTMARE - divine retribution! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted April 27, 2010 Share Posted April 27, 2010 Val, Hi delighted it's all going so well. I had a similar experience except that they don't house share Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted April 27, 2010 Share Posted April 27, 2010 ..........oh and we're all needing pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValerieR Posted April 27, 2010 Author Share Posted April 27, 2010 aye - canny find camera - will need to buy a new one! val Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
