Gertie Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Hi all I had a few questions about introductions & the next step. I've read the FAQ section, but I don't have free ranging/ other enclosed facilities to follow those instructions. I have 3 ex batts I would like to introduce to my other 4 hens in the cube. I've had the ex batts since November so they are looking strong & healthy. For the last 3 weeks the hens have been right next to each other in their separate runs, only separated by the width of the run skirt. They are not interested in each other & have not got upset at all. So should I just put the ex batts in the run with the other hens or put them in & rig up a partition? I've got loads of extra feeders & drinkers to put in, also I have 2 weeks off in April to hen watch. I'm going to feed them corn along the side of the run so they can see each other eating etc. What do you experts suggest? Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 Hi Gertie, How are your cube and eglu set up? What size is your cube run -is it big enough to keep 7 hens in without FR facilities? If so, could you divide the run for the time being? There will be some argy bargy at some point when you introduce them, whilst the new pecking order is established, so maybe leave the actual intros until you can supervise, but it will do no harm to have them all in one divided run until then. I recently introduced my 4 ex batts to my other 7 girls. They had been living next to each other for 3 months, largely ignoring each other. There were a few fights initially, so the ex batts needed room to escape, but it settled down pretty quickly. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted March 7, 2011 Author Share Posted March 7, 2011 Hi Tweety Thanks for replying. I have a cube with 6 metre run. The hens are small to medium sized. The other eglu is entirely separate but maybe I could rig it up so that the classic eglu Is at the end of the other run so they have somewhere to go. If people generally think it unwise to put them in together as a next step, I'm sure I can get some temporary extra enclosure rigged up. I am around for 2 weeks to break up the fights! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
