Eglu Cube Coop For Sale

[velma]

It's a bit of a long story, but I've had my first chicken demise (Mabel) and am not sure the best way to proceed.

 

We started off with two Gingernut rangers and an eglu.

 

After about 18months, upgraded to a Cube, and got a Buff Orpington and a White Sussex from a local breeder. She told us to just put them all in and bear out the squabbles. Which we did, but....

 

Well, it got ugly - both new chickens were getting badly beaten and each day seemed to be getting worse - and I was such a beginner, I'd already sold the Eglu to fund the Cube. So, one very bloody afternoon, we ran to the garden centre and bought the first chicken house they had because we just needed another.

 

So they lived apart in their separate houses for a year or so. They free ranged together in the garden and the White Sussex would take a beating but she'd run away.

 

Over the bad winter weather (by now, the pure-breeds are about 15months old), everyone started getting on better when out together. And one of the Gingernuts was moulting. So, one night they just all went up to roost in the Cube and I closed the door and they've lived together pretty nicely ever since.

 

Mabel (the White Sussex) was clearly bottom of the pecking order. She gradually developed a pronounced hobble/limp - I left it for a few days but it didn't seem to get better with rest. She could move when she had to (being chased) but she was very unco-ordinated when in the Cube lurching about, and spent a lot of time sitting down.

Took her to the vet, he thought it might be worms or some kind of inflammation, so we treated her with MEtacam and Pancur for a week but nothing changed. We had her put to sleep earlier this week. It might have been Marek's but it didn't all fit , but it didn't seem to be anything else obvious either.

 

So, my current predicament:

I now have three birds, which keeps us in eggs just about, would prefer 4.

Want to get birds that have been vaccinated from now on.

Don't want to add 1, but should I add 2 more Gingernuts (someone said the 2nd two got such a hard time because they didn't look like chickens to the first two), or should I get Pepperpots because then it's clear which is which batch.

 

Obviously will introduce very slowly using the other house which we still have - so don't want a repeat of last time.

Any other tips or advice?

[Malkalv]

I havent had to introduce chickens yet (my plan is to wait until next year), but I have read quite a few books over the last few years to learn more about my girls. Two of my comprehensive books both suggest introducing them at night while they are roosting since the birds tend to be much more mellow and docile. You can put them in together at night then seperate them in the morning if things get a bit hairy and usually after repeating this for a few nights they finally accept each other.

[Tweety]

Sorry to hear about Mabel and the troubles you have had. I originally had 2 Gingernuts and 2 Pepperpots from Omlet, and have since added more Gingernuts types, and have found that my top chook has always been a Gingernut. The Pepperpots seem to be more laid back so, if this is typical of the breed, I would say go for the Pepperpots.

You will have to go through the introduction process regardless of the breed you choose, so I wouldn't worry about it too much and go for what you really want.

good luck!

 

Edited to add that there is some excellent advice about introductions in the FAQs about chickens, in case you haven't seen it already. I have always followed it religiously, and it has worked every time so far.

[poppy ben grace]

Hi, if you have the room you could get 3 more chickens , at least then there would be 3 against 3! Sorry to hear about your girl. I am at the moment introducing 3 ex batts to my 7 girls and its going ok at the momment . They are all together in a big wir but the old girls are sleeping in the cube and the ex batts have my old wooden coop for now, i am planning on them all going in the cube eventually... Its a bit of a pain but at least it gives the ex batts a bit of their own space.

If you have a spare coop you could ty the same although i am sure you shoudnt have too much trouble introducing new girls, good luck whatever you decide to do, you could always consider some ex batts they are truly amazing the way they bounce back and enjoy life!

[BocBoc]

Sorry to hear about your loss

 

We are going through introductions this week after getting two new girls last Saturday. We've done introductions a few times now and have never had the luxury of seperate accomodation and slow intros!

We've always got two new birds so they are friends from the beginning. We wait until the existing girls have gone to bed then open the eggport door and pop the newbies in with them. We shut the Eglu door then wait til morning....

 

Previously we have been lucky and had little issues when opening the Eglu door and letting them all see each other for the first time. A bit of squawking and hen pecking is natural and you have to let them get on with it - it's what they do. We've stood at the side of the run and given the pecker a squirt if it looks to be getting a bit too nasty or going on for a long time but you shouldn't intervene unless there is blood drawn.

 

The intros we are doing now have been a bit more tricky!! Details are in the "Chicken up a tree" thread but we are currently letting them get on with it in the morning then going home at lunchtime to let the old girls out to FR and leaving the newbies in the run so they can have some peace n quiet - and easy access to the food and water.

 

We've got anti-peck spray on order but we ordered that in a panic at the start of the week. Things have settled down a lot since then and things are improving every day.

 

Juts go for it! After a few weeks they will all get on famously and you'll be wondering what all the fuss was about