Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[fluffy chick]

I would love some ideas ....

 

I would love some orps or cochins. Two or three would do (for now ) I was leaning towards swapping my for a cube to give them space but this would mean them living with my 6 bantams. I have heard these birds are 'gentle giants' but would I be pushing it introducing them to my pullet bantams I am a total wimp when it comes to intros!

 

Would I be better off getting a second classic and keeping them separate? It just seems a lot of money if I can only fit 2 birds in it

[lindafw]

My cube contains, 1 buff Orp rooster and 1 buff Orp hen, 2 Dorking hens, 1 light Sussex hen, 1 Poland hen and 1 Poland cockerel. I have just added 3 Aracunas to my flock...they are sleeping in the spare Eglu out of choice and they are not happy with the ladder to the coop. I kept them separate for 2 nights and then bunged them in the cube with the flock when everyone was settled. They came out fine in the morning...they all free range in a large garden and there have been no problems at all. Unfortunately they cant make it up the ladder but all free range together in the day

[beach chick]

as posted on another thread recently, the biggest size differential I ever had was a Buff Orp and a Golden Sebright - and they were the best of friends! Beauty, the Sebright (a bit bigger than a blackbird basically) would run underneath all the big girls, and by coming through their legs from behind, pinch whatever was beneath their beaks.

 

I reckon it can work, just as long as you have enough space for everyone to get a bit of distance/escape/hiding places.

[keyhole kate]

Introducing any new hens irrelevant of the size or breed can be traumatic and stressful, feather pecking,bullying, are just some of the difficulties that can occur existing hens can be really vicious to newbies a lot depends on the individual natures and characters of your existing flock and of the new hens it is a bit of a lottery I am afraid.

You would certainly need a cube if you intend to increase your numbers especially if considering Orps they are huge some omleteers have never sucessfully been able to mix LF with bantams and have had to keep two seperate flocks please consider wether this is feasible given your circumstances. I have LF and littlies together but I had seperate accomodation and took the very very slow intro approach over several months I think I have been one of the lucky ones, There is a fab advice and guidance on this forum regarding intros

 

I dont want to sound all doom and gloom I just want you to be as prepared as you can for all eventualities should you choose to increase your numbers.

[fluffy chick]

thanks very much all of you

 

I had a pair of hybrids I tried to introduce to my original 3 bantams, I gave up pretty quickly on that idea and had to rehome the hybrids. I then bought another 3 bantams and eventually got all 6 getting on pretty well. Only one of my (original ) pekins is narky, mainly cos she is almost permanently broody I think.

 

I would love a cube but cannot afford one without selling the classic. Saying that I would love to avoid intros too . I seem to remember promising never to introduce again as I lost lots of sleep last time

 

Would you consider a classic for orps? I have had advice that it would be ok but only for a couple. I could keep them separate this way (in electic fencing not a run) but it would seem a bit of a waste just for 2 chooks

[hennyjenny]

I kept 2 large orps (cockerel and hen) in a classic with 3m run and they were fine. They did free range in the day. You couldn't fit anymore in though.

I am a wimp with introductions too and despite following all the advice I have ended up with 3 pens because I couldn't stand the fighting. I once tried to introduce 1 orp hen 18 weeks with 3 younger hens (16 weeks) Orp was the bully and was quite nasty not gentle giant at all and I ended up rehoming her. (she settled very well with older hens - but there was a lot more space to hide/run away as previous post mentioned)

Then tried 2 cream legbars 18 weeks in with two bantams 1 year old - bantams were having none of it! Poor legbars were perched out of reach for most of the time. (so pen number 3 came into being) I could have given it more time but I am too soft.

I think you just have to do what makes you and your hens happiest. Good luck.