2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[Prince55]

Hi all,

 

Well it's like this my husband and i have just updated our Eglu for a cube, they both have the 3 metre runs on.

In the original coop we have 3 girls a Domino Ranger (Florence) and 2 White Stars (Pearl and Blanche) we picked up the new coop last week and on the same day we bought 2 Columbines (Mabel and Phyllis).

We erected it all and being new territory for all the girls we placed all 5 in together thinking this may be ok and they can establish their new pecking order.

Well the original girls were that aggressive to the 2 new ones we had to put all 3 back in the Eglu to let the 2 new girls calm down and settle without being continually attacked.

On tues we picked up a Bluebelle (Violet) and a Silkie (Audrey) we placed these in the new coop with the new girls and we had NO problems just the usual sorting out the pecking order so we added 1 of the White Stars (Blanche) she has been fine aswell so far.

Today the large door for the Cube end panel arrived so whilst replacing the new one i thought i will try letting them ALL out in the garden so the new girls can get away if need's be (BIG MISTAKE)

Flo our Domino Ranger went crazy and was so aggressive she looked like a Cock fighting she challenged Violet and they went at it hammer and tongs until Violet backed down but she was jumping on all of the new girls backs and pecking and pulling on their necks, chasing them continuously and jumping at them with her feet splayed (i have never seen anything like it) and as you can imagine the new girls were very distressed

I eventually caught her in the run (i am 5months pregnant and with a HUGE bump) and trying to get through the little door was a mean feat as you can guess tee hee, i have placed her and Pearl who was also being aggressive back in their old coop whilst the others free ranged and calmed down (poor things).

So now i don't really know how to go about introducing the 2 VIOLENT ones back in with the 5 without them either seriously hurting 1 or worse!!!!!!

We thought about putting Pearl in, in a few days so she will be at the bottom and leaving Flo on her own for a while.

However with the weather being like it is i don't really want the little minx to freeze from being on her own during the night.

Both of the coops are next to each other at the moment so the girls can see each other but what are your suggestions

If anybody could please get back to me it would be VERY much appreciated

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this

Kind Regards

Zara

xxxxxxx

[scarlettohara]

There's a very good introductions guide in Chickens you could get some ideas from. I would put all the new girls together in the new run for a week, the old girls can go in their original run/coop. Let the old girls free range around the new girls during this time but keep the new ones in (or only let them out when old girls are enclosed in their run). Feed treats around the new girls run so the old ones can can used to them slowly. Gradually introduce them after a week and let them fr together but be in hand to sort out any squabbles Once they are happily free ranging together then perhaps put them all together for a night and see how it goes - if it doesn't work put them in their own coops at night until they are all happy together. Good Luck

[Redwing]

Its very early days I'd leave them as they are for a couple of weeks and let the dust settle then try adding the odd two later

 

The problem will be conpounded by the fact that you'll have seven chickens in the run eventually, its not really big enough for that many so squabbles may continue to occur if they are at such close quarters and bullied ones wont have anywhere to get away from it

[coco]

I would leave them as they are for now, my last lot of intoductions took three months and my current intros have been going on for about 6 weeks. Take it slowly and they should all settle down eventually.

[Prince55]

Thank you all very much for your replies (Good advice by the way) Ok will leave it and see how it goes we have put Pearl (our other White Star) into the new run so currently have 6 in there and Florence is still in the Eglu so we are going to leave her for a few weeks i was told by the woman who we collected them from today she will be fine by herself as i was unsure due to the cold (but Sarah is defo a chicken pro as she breeds them for her business tee hee)

Pearl is settled at the mo as i have been watching them all afternoon so fingers crossed we have cracked it with them?

We shall see with the beast after a few weeks or so!!!!! DUN DUN DUN haha x

And i am unsure now as i thought the cube with the 3 mtr run could hold up to 10 large chooks we have 6 large and then a Silkie and that is all we are putting in there so thought they may be Ok they free range for a good few hours everyday so do you think i need another extension? xxxxx

Again thank you all so much for the advice it is VERY useful as have been tearing my hair out thinking good grief (prob the hormones tee hee) and i can appreciate it will take time otherwise its the pot for Flo - JOKE!!!!!!!!!!

xxxxxxxxxx

Take care and Kind regards to you all

Zara xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[scarlettohara]

I'm sure some will disagree with me but I wouldn't leave one of her own in cold weather

[Chortle Chook]

I read somewhere that if you take the agressers away and put them for a wee while (a week or so) somewhere they have never been (i.e. the garage with a different house / box / rabbit hutch), then introduce them to the others, they have to start lower down the pecking order and this helps. The same book said on no account to take the lower order hens away.

 

Do let us know how it goes.

[Lavenders_Blue]

I'm sure some will disagree with me but I wouldn't leave one of her own in cold weather

 

No I wouldn't either. In the summer it would be a different matter but this time of year I think they need to huddle together to keep warm.

I hope you soon have a happy flock, anyway.