johnandkymberley Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 Hi all, i have finally got my white stars! Lily and Willow came to us tonight at 7.00pm! atm they are in a cat box inside the cube run extension, i didnt want to put them in the shed as its so hot, the other girls where having a look, nothing nasty went on. I now need a few bits of advice 1. They are not tame at all, i know white hens take longer to get tame but any tips i can start implementing, i have stroked them today and tried to feed them by hand - they didnt take one bit whereas my other hens have always been very tame! 2. My other hens lived with 12 others in a smaller space than 8ft by 12ft, tommorow i dont know what to do, i was wondering would it be a good idea to let them into the run and free range with the others, i have extra feeders and drinkers so minimise bullying? Thanks to everyone iin advance! i desperatly need some words of wisdom! xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 White Stars are notoriously skittish. My two don't like being handled at all. I wouldn't bother trying thb. I use an anglers net to catch them if ever I need to give them a health check, apart from that I leave them to it. I forgive then, as their eggs are so beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 I'll echo what Egluntyne has said. Plus, there's a thread on introductions in the FAQ section - you'll need some alternative housing when introducing any new hens to your current flock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 I've got there in the end with Angelina so there is hope! But it took a good month and mealworms were the trick. I couldn't approach for a good couple of weeks but gradually let her come closer and closer until she ate them out of my hands. Once she started laying, she calmed down. I started stroking her ears at night when she was sleepy then gently between her wattles. She's now fine with being stroked like a cat when she's settled down for the night but I leave her be during the day. She is much, much less flighty now (she used to take off at any opportunity) but does like to sleep high up - on a shelf or, failing that, the roof of the cube will do! She doesn't chat to me though like a few of my others (ISA brown and Suffolk Noir, who's incredibly chatty) but is a lovely girl with lovely big white eggs! So... be patient PS My Columbine is still mad as a hatter but does now eat out of my hand (2.5 months after getting them!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted July 10, 2010 Author Share Posted July 10, 2010 Hi all, well i put the white stars in the run with my others, i had no other option other than to let them out, and as they are skittish i wanted to avoid any jumping etc, my other girls seem ok, there have been swabbles - inevitably really as they probably would swabble anyway, the white stars have been inside and one has laid an egg!!!! So hopefully they will be the best of friends! my others will free ranged from 12pm - they dusk, unless we go out or anything - we are supposed to be picking up a new cube door so they may have to go bk in then, and the white stars are going to be kept in the run and a good distraction for the others (carrot!) will keep both parties happy xxx p.s can i ask why there is a little picture of a lilac eglu? Do omlet do a lilac one?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 They used to do a lilac one, but it was discontinued. Plenty come up 2nd hand though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 I'll just add that my white star didnt want to know me for months until she became top chicken - now I think she sees me as her equal and will quite happily let me pick her up for a quick chat and cuddle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted July 10, 2010 Author Share Posted July 10, 2010 lol, thanks everyone, the others are now free ranging and the white stars are in the run, they are eating and drinking aswell as exploring! so all seems ok, i wouldnt say brilliantly but ok, if my other hens were to peck and peck them, when should i take the white stars out? Also they dont eat/drink from the grubs or superglug so how can i make them do that? xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 Here is my experience of introducing Phoebe and Harriet two of my white stars that came from a large mixed flock that were kept in a shed. When I got them home I put them in the Eglu and run within the free-ranging area for 2 weeks...on the 14th night I put them in the shed with the other girls once the girls were asleep, after dabbing some Olbas oil on the back of their necks...in the morning I let them out with the others and I didn't have to use the water sprayer once...I for one couldn't believe it...they integrated with the other 10 girls like they had always been part of the flock...amazing! My easiest integration todate They are a little scatty...but I don't find them difficult to catch when I need to check them over...I just adore them and their gorgeous white eggs Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted July 10, 2010 Author Share Posted July 10, 2010 Well, i have an update for you all! The white stars hens were in the run for most of the morning and early afternoon (they both laid )!!!!, i then opened the door to let them freerange, they did a little but ran back to the run most times, i think they feel safe in there! They got the hang of using the grubs and superglugs! thank god as i didnt want dehydrated birds on my hands! The other hens did nip at them abit but as we needed to pop out i reluctantly put all 7 girls in the run, we got back an hour later and the white stars were in the eglu overlooking the others, i locked them in as we had some anti-pek spray to adminster! lol, They were really easy to hold, so much so i had Willow on the top of the cube and she was resting her breast area on my hand!!!!! Lily was a bit more flighty but sat and let us spray her, since then the other hens have just ran after them or had one peck and left them, i little different to earlier when they were constantly on Willow and Lily. At bedtime we were outside with them (peach archers and a lemonade in hands! ) with the intention to put them in the cat box for the night, the white stars went in first and settled down! couldnt believe it! The others slowly but surely followed. Hazel is always the last into bed and Petal (our ringleader) was sitting at the door and everytime Hazel tried to get in Petal pecked her! Eventually Hazel just barged past her and got in! Petal is sitting at the front door, even now when i just checked out of the back window!!!! We looked in and all the hens and even with the white stars they are all sitting down together! So we left them there! I suppose one day they are going to be together, i am so impressed by them! Clever girls! So..so far so good eh?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted July 11, 2010 Share Posted July 11, 2010 Thank you for the update Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted July 13, 2010 Author Share Posted July 13, 2010 well because of the bad rep that white stars have got for being flighty i thought i had a right job on my hands, mine let me pick them up and even fall asleep in my arms! they are not fully part of the flock but not far from it! My introductions went better than expected and im so proud of my other hens being so welcoming and the best part... i didnt even know what i was doing!!!! theres hope for us all xxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 Harriet and Phoebe, white star...were the easiest of all to integrate into my flock of 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
