Chicken boarders

[batcatz]

Finally integrated the two hens that arrived in October 2009. Is 9 months a record? This happened as soon as I moved the wooden coop into a new position.

 

I have a spare wooden coop that could be:

a good duck house, although run is prob too small for ducks

or a boarding coop for 2 silkies

or a home for some bantam silkies

 

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Nine months . Took me nine weeks and I thought that was long . Sounds like you have some shopping to do .

[Guest]

Gosh that is long.

 

Mine took 2 weeks Not trying to sound like im bragging.

[midori]

Gosh that is long.

 

Mine took 2 weeks Not trying to sound like im bragging.

 

My last one took about an hour.

 

I am 'full' now, so just the two newbies, currently in a seperate house/run to try and mix next week. Hopefully it'll go well, this makes me dread it!

 

I'm glad you've finally managed to integrate them.

[Janet G]

Oh no, 9 months. We're at 5 weeks & I'm running out of steam, & sometimes it seems we're not much nearer achieving harmony. We've had the bully hen separated but today we let her out with the others & it wasn't too bad until bedtime. She's beaten up the 2 newbies who are now in the eggbox, & she & her mate are in the house together as if they've never been apart. Still at least all 4 are in the same premises for their first night, so have to see if the newbies seem terrorised in the morning. Any tips would be gratefully received.

Janet.

[Guest]

Gosh that is long.

 

Mine took 2 weeks Not trying to sound like im bragging.

 

My last one took about an hour.

 

I am 'full' now, so just the two newbies, currently in a seperate house/run to try and mix next week. Hopefully it'll go well, this makes me dread it!

 

I'm glad you've finally managed to integrate them.

 

It would of taken shorter but I was at school so

[batcatz]

Oh no, 9 months. We're at 5 weeks & I'm running out of steam, & sometimes it seems we're not much nearer achieving harmony. We've had the bully hen separated but today we let her out with the others & it wasn't too bad until bedtime. She's beaten up the 2 newbies who are now in the eggbox, & she & her mate are in the house together as if they've never been apart. Still at least all 4 are in the same premises for their first night, so have to see if the newbies seem terrorised in the morning. Any tips would be gratefully received.

Janet.

 

It took so long as they lived in seperate runs, but they could see each other. I recommend keeping the newbies in a seperate part of the run within the main run in the day, but pop them in the coop together at night and seperate them in the morning. It will be quicker this way, but can you get up at 4.30am to do this?

 

Mine freeranged together but I had to follow them all around at first with a spray bottle to stop any fights. Always spray the one who starts the fight. Dotty is the top hen, but the two new hens both had a go for top hen.

 

Bianca backed down first so she was fine with Dotty, then Lucy tried for top hen for what seemed like months! I thought she would never back down. Then, Bianca started bullying Hetty (silkie) and pulled out feathers. Whenever I tried to put them together Hetty would run away from Bianca and constantly do the alarm call, Dotty protected her and pecked the others if she saw any nastiness. Also Lucy kept copying Bianca and tried to peck Hetty's feet. I had them together for a night in the eglu months ago, but Bianca came out with a bloody comb so I seperated them till it healed.

 

Then Hetty would desperately pace up and down in front of the door to be let out to go into the wooden coop. I thought it was because she wanted to be away from the bully, but now I think she just wanted to go to bed in the coop that she was used to. I'm really pleased now as they are all totally relaxed in the run and at ease with each other. Dotty still puts the others in their place if they misbehave though, haha. I've probably been over cautious and could have integrated more quickly.

 

I am v jealous of those quick intros though!! Stop that boasting. hahaha.

[Snoxy]

Well done

 

Patience is a virtue