Fur 'n' Feathers Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 We picked up our newbies on 14 June after getting back from Switzerland. They've been freeranging in the garden with the older girls from 5 days in (very long days at weekends) and have been netted in together at the bottom of the garden for freeranging for the past three weeks since they all virtually destroyed our fuscias and rhubab leaves (with no ill effect!!! ). Last weekend we swapped them over so A & P were in the eglu & the 2 Ts were in the cube (Aspro was still a bit pecky as top hen when food was around & Pitsilatha obviously doesn't want to be bottom hen again by her odd pecks! They've been visiting eachothers' runs throughout the whole 5 weeks and we decided to bite the bullet on Tuesday night & put A&P back in the cube with the newbies to roost after dark.....stood back....not a peep! not even a movement!!! Wednesday morniong they were all crammed up against the pophol;e door waiting to be let out. No pecking on being let out into the light so we left them together while we went to work. Came home.... no issues! We let them freerange then they all went back in the run. They all went to bed in the cube and the same happened today . There's still the odd peck to keep the newbies in check but very superficial nudging really. Koukoula has been separating herself off a bit as she was the main target (same basic colour as Aspro & already slightly larger so quite a threat to top hen), but tonight we caught her & aspro investigating something together (with od peck that was ignored) and she seems not to be so scatty. So...5 weeks 7 2 days and it seems they've more or less settled into life together. Definatel;y think June is the best intro time as we think the light evenings and extyra freeranging time has really helped. ........plants now recovering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Excellent sounds like it's all gone to plan congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 Well done, I like the idea of swapping their homes before merging them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...