Eggie232 Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 (edited) I've just become proud mummy to a pair of 16 week old cutiepies! They've been in the classic since Tuesday and I'm just wondering how long I should wait before letting them out to free range with my gorgeous ex-batts? Im off work for the next few weeks so have the time to sit with them and keep a close eye on things.They are both looking very keen to get out and explore their new surroundings! But obviously I don't want to rush things. What do you think I should do? Edited August 6, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 They should ideally be isolated from the rest of your flock for a good 10 days or so,just to make sure that they don't have anything nasty that could be transferred to your girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 I got a light sussex and a welsummer four weeks ago. They are now 19 weeks and 16 weeks. They are still living seperately as both have been ill recently, both had colds and had to have antibiotics then the light sussex had Coccidiosis which she now seems to be over. the other reason I haven't mixed them yet is that i feel they are both too young to stand up for themselves especially the Welsummer who is very nervy. I would take your time doing the intros with such young hens, if your ex batts are anything like mine they'll take no prisoners. Good luck whatever you decide to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 They should ideally be isolated from the rest of your flock for a good 10 days or so,just to make sure that they don't have anything nasty that could be transferred to your girls. When you say isolated do you mean in a totally different part of the garden so that they don't even share the same air space Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 Different housing, different drinking water, food, ect. No physical contact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggie232 Posted August 6, 2010 Author Share Posted August 6, 2010 Presumably also not to have contact with each others poo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 Different housing, different drinking water, food, ect. No physical contact. I was hoping it would be okay to put new hens in an Eglu and run within a large WIR that housed other hens in their own house. I would have a partition so that the original hens couldn't get close to the new ones, but they would still be within a few feet of each other. Other than that I don't know where I could site my Eglu as my new run is going to be so big I will be a bit short of garden space Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
