2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[meezers]

Not something I have to attempt just yet - the chicks are just 5 weeks old. But I am wondering if anyone has had problems re intergrating their broody back into the main flock ?

Muppet and chicks are in a sectioned off area of the main run, with their own coop. The rest of the flock have been able to see Muppet and chicks through the weld mesh since day one ( infact I didn't put the partition up straight away, so Muppet has only been seperated 6 weeks. ) BUT, I don't think Muppet will be welcomed back into the flock when she's ready, I get the impression that Mabel, Lottie and Doris ( the dopiest, sweetest of the chooks ) are just waiting to kill her first chance they get ! I was thinking of getting a small , 3rd coop and installing muppet in there with a couple of bantams for company if the big girls don't want her back, but I'd prefer not to.Has anyone not been able to re intergrate their broody ?

[bessandra]

Hi meezers

I'm glad you've asked! I'll be faced with this soon too!

[abwsco]

Ali, mine reintegrated last year OK although there was some argey bargey to start off with.

[Egluntyne]

Ditto to the above.

 

I always keep my broodies in an Eglu in the chickens ranging area, so they see eachother on a daily basis, so there is a a week of snippiness and then they are all friends again.

[Jools]

Feathers normally fly for a little while, until they find the status quo again. I'm going through it at the moment re-integrating my three broodies, but it doesn't usually take long. The fact that they've been able to see her all that time means that she won't be a stranger to them. They do have alarmingly short memories and forget even their best friends in the time it takes to hatch eggs and raise a family! It's certainly nowhere near as bad as introducing new stock, but if you can do it gradually with some netting between them for a day or two, it does help.

[meezers]

Hmm, well we'll wait and see. Just a bit worrying that apart from Lottie - who has always been evil , the two who are squaring up to muppet through the mesh and lunging at her are the two who were below her in the pecking order, I'm wondering if as they have more to lose , that's why they are being so aggresive. Before Muppet went broody, they wouldn't say boo to a goose ( or a silkie for that matter )

[Lewis]

Hilary was never part of the group before, but Nugget was and then hatched Orville - she's FR'd with everyone everyday on her fag breaks and then since he's hatched, running around with him.

 

There's never been a problem with her and getting on with the ducks and Cilla

[Scarlett OHara]

I will also be doing this in a few weeks! I have a broody who has hatched out 6 beautiful Welsummer/ Marans chicks. I have been told to wait for about 6 weeks before taking the broody away from them - would you agree with this? When I put her back with the others, I will do it at night but she can see them and they can see her so hopefully not too much fighting.

Can anyone tell me about powdering the chicks for lice and mites? When can you do this? Thanks