midori Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 Having been thinking about it for about a year, and having a few friends with hens, we decided last week to take the plunge and get our first chickens. Our house/run came yesterday, when I also collected our first pullets, then we collected two hens from a different breeder today. We managed to introduce the two newbies with none of the swabbling we were told to expect, although they are sorting out the 'pecking order' they are doing so gracefully it seems, with only minor avoidance and pecking going on. What a relief! We haven't decided on names yet, but have three 13 week old pullets, a Light Sussex, a Cuckoo Maran and a Bluebell, and two year old hens, both Buff Sussex. I am so excited to have them, they are absolutely wonderful! Here they are after they went in to roost tonight: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 Hi and welcome to the forum Congratulations on your new chickens, they make wonderful pets and are endlessly entertaining Its good that they have got off to a peaceful start, just keep an eye on them and be prepared to separate them if there are major problems as there is quite an age difference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midori Posted May 23, 2010 Author Share Posted May 23, 2010 Thankyou. I don't think I could keep a closer eye on them, I have to keep peering at them every five minutes, my neighbours must think I am insane! Could there be potential problems due to the age difference or just because they are new to each other? Neither breeder seemed to think we'd have a problem, although they both said expect some initial squabbling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 ideally the younger birds should be 18 weeks old or so but if its going ok then let it continue as it is - it sounds like you are doing ok so far Its very addictive watching chickens isnt it? we bought two chairs especially for chook watching Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 It should go ok. Since the buff sussex are older they will obviously take the top seats. but if you are lucky they might take the others as their young. This happen with my sussex bantams they have eventually taken my Marsh Daisy's as their young and Betty came out to get the MD's to go to bed tonight. Good Luck. Trust us all it becomes VERY VERY VERY Addictive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 Lovely girls. It is difficult to explain to someone who doesn't have chickens just how wonderful they are to watch. You'll have 5 more this time next year (at least) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_m Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 (edited) Lovely girls. It is difficult to explain to someone who doesn't have chickens just how wonderful they are to watch. You'll have 5 more this time next year (at least) Couldn't agree more. Everyone in work thinks I'm nuts. Lovely girls. I've just got a bluebelle myself Edited May 24, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midori Posted May 24, 2010 Author Share Posted May 24, 2010 Thanks for the replies and comments. I got a little worried as I hadn't realised the age difference would/might be a problem. The book we had, nor the breeders nor chicken house man mentioned it. I have kept a very close eye on them today and it seems the buff sussex are indeed 'in charge', the one with the most black (now named 'Margery') in particular. She does make it known if she doesn't want the pullets about, and has had a few pecks, at which point they get out of her way. There hasn't been any noise or loud scuffles though, and no harm done and they aren't scared to go near her and ar eating/drinking fine, so I assume that's OK? Obviously I'll still keep a close eye on them. Marge is the hen on the bottom right in the picture, then Matilda above her, 'Speckled Jim' (don't ask, and she is a girl!) above/topt he left of Matilda, then on the other perch the light sussex is Mable and the Bluebell is Millicent. We had our first eggs today from Marge and Matilda too, and Matilda's was a 90g double yolker! My husband had to make a fried egg sandwich with it the second we found it! And yes, they are addictive! I will have to keep control of myself though, as our garden isn't huge and we don't have room for another house, and although ours is meant for six to ten hens, I am not sure I'd want any more in it than the five we have already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 Dont worry yourself it sounds like all is perfectly normal so far, the pullets will scuttle out of the way if told off. As long as everyone is allowed to eat and drink and have enough room to get away it should be ok, add extra food and water stations if you are worried If any blood gets drawn be prepared to separate the injured one and keep it apart until it starts to heal. Purple spray (often called Gentian Violet) available from horsey shops is useful to have around as a matter of course. It covers sore and bleeding areas with a fetching (and startlingly semipermenant) purple coverage as red attracts chickens to peck more I'm sure all will go ok but just keep an eye on things, Different people have views on adding youngsters I expect the breeders were people who believe in the 'let them get on with it' school of thought, perhaps we are a soft touch on here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 Welcome and congratulations on your new girls - they're gorgeous . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 Congratulations. Those Buff Sussexes take my fancy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midori Posted May 25, 2010 Author Share Posted May 25, 2010 Thankyou. We had our third egg today, from Marge, but Matilda didn't lay, much to my husband's disappointment! (We knew they wouldn't lay every day though and were suprised we got eggs as soon as yesterday) My 9 year old son had been promised he could check the laying boxes when he got home from school, and he was thrilled to find an egg in there and is having it for breakfast tomorrow. I have to admit though, I knew it was there, as I noticed Marge inside during one of my many 'checks' on the chooks during the day and when I noticed her come out making a right old noise, I went to peek and found the egg. Do they always make a noise after laying? They did it yesterday too. It will be their first time out of the run tomorrow. I am a bit nervous, but hoping it will go well. I think we're going to let them out for a couple of hours in the late afternoon/early evening and hope they go back in by themselves. They are much less nervous of me already and if they are in the house when I go over and call them they come out into the run for whatever food I might have. They haven't been brave enough to eat from my hand yet, but are thinking about it. They have also had their first treat of a tiny bit of lettuce and cabbage tonight. They loved the lettuce! Who knew there was so much to say about hens?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 Hi Midori and welcome to the forum, sorry ive only just caught this. Yours girls look absolutely gorgeous and it sounds like you are coping just fine with them. It is hugely addictive isnt it? I also started with 5................................. now, ive got 23 But i dont have any Buff Sussex and they are simply stunning! , mmmm maybe i could push it to 25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*mummy_hen* Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 Lovely girls! Chicken watching (and keeping) is very addictive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 That is such a lovely picture of your chickens roosting! I agree, it is hard to explain just how wonderful chicken-watching is. DH thinks I've started to look like a chicken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miss_spent Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Hello! I got my first chickens this week too, and am addicted to them. I have also not seen OH smile so much in months! I want to talk about them all day, but the blokes at work don't seem too keen. Maybe when I bring in a few eggs they will come round to my way of thinking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
