sadietoo Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 OK, I probably know the answer to this question, but thought I would throw it out for an opinion. I have acquired a second hand cube, and it looks like after it sitting for just three or four months in the garden that it is in danger of being put into place in the next couple of weeks...or so At the moment I just have two girls, Kipper who has been through her henopause and Pansy a very gentle Light Sussex, who is a bit scared of her own shadow. I'm really not sure now which is top Hen. Kipper usually goes to bed first these days though. They have been living in an eglu. I am planning to get two (three) more hens to join them in the cube. Which of the following options do you think would cause the least amount of bother and upset in intergrating the new and old girls? a) Keep Kipper and Pansy in the eglu until the new girls are settled in the cube, and then introduce them into the cube when ready. b) put Kipper and Pansy in the Cube and keep the new girls in the eglu until ready to be introduced. c) Keep Kipper and Pansy in the eglu until I get the new girls and then just throw them all into the cube together as it will have been no-one's home up until that time, and that might be enough to stop any fighting? I'm leaning towards option "a" . As always your advice much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Depends on what you are getting..if you are getting 16 weeks or so I would shove them all in the cube together but if you are getting older and stronger birds I would go for option A...but what do I know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 We introduced 3 ex batts to 2 old ones, went for the option b plan. I don't think you are really supposed to do it that way but it worked for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I think I would go for option a) as your girls are used to the Eglu and if you are going to get 3 new girls then the Cube would seem the obvious home for them as it has more space. We play musical houses with our girls quite a lot though. Our ex batts started off in the Eglu, moved to the Cube but are now back in the Eglu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 What's your run set-up like? As in, do you have a WIR, Eglu run and/or cube run? Just asking cos we had 5 big girls in the cube in the WIR and kept our growers in the Eglu with Eglu run and then just moved them closer and closer over 2 months so all the posturing (and running away ) was done with the safety of weldmesh keeping them apart - worked a treat Also, if you're getting 3 POL, they might gang up against your gentle 2 (they sound gorgeous!). Or they might be shocked and quiet! You'll probably formulate a plan but, when you meet your new girls, decide to go with something completely different! It all depends on the set-up and the girls... sorry, that wasn't much help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted August 10, 2011 Author Share Posted August 10, 2011 What's your run set-up like? As in, do you have a WIR, Eglu run and/or cube run? Just asking cos we had 5 big girls in the cube in the WIR and kept our growers in the Eglu with Eglu run and then just moved them closer and closer over 2 months so all the posturing (and running away ) was done with the safety of weldmesh keeping them apart - worked a treat Well I have an extended cube run and and extended eglu run atm. We have a big plan for the cube and run though which means it will be taller than usual so I am planning for a mezzanine, and so I know that there will definitely be enough space for four, (and perhaps 5 if the morehens gets the better of me) but I will probably stick at four so that I am sure everyone's happy. It is not an option to keep the eglu in the longterm as sadly we don't really have room in our garden for both Also, if you're getting 3 POL, they might gang up against your gentle 2 (they sound gorgeous!). Or they might be shocked and quiet! You'll probably formulate a plan but, when you meet your new girls, decide to go with something completely different! It all depends on the set-up and the girls... sorry, that wasn't much help I'm sure you are absolutely right and it will depend entirely on personalities, when I pick up the new girls. I really don't want to upset my existing two darlings who are really very sweet indeed. Thanks to everyone for their opinions and advice. I hope it is not too long before I can do my Taa Daa post and reveal my modified cube set up and some gorgeous new (and old) girls living happily together!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 For what its worth, I don't think I would go for option a) because your current 2 girls sound a bit timid and I wouldn't want to stress them unduly. I would put them in the cube so it becomes 'theirs' and they don't have to encounter the problem of going into somebody else's domain. I'd keep my newbies separate for a bit in the eglu in quarantine, allow them to see each other and then either follow the good practice advice about slow introductions, or, do what I normally do which is put them together one night when they are dozy, and ensure I'm about to supervise the next day with multiple feed/drink stations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Hi Sadietoo! A cube at last I'd put Kipper & Pansy in the cube, maybe start off by giving them access to it when they are FR, then move them over in time to get settled before the new girls arrive & go into their old home....our house moves have usually been chook-led rather than a deliberate move by us, they start off going for sleepovers ...........if time doesn't permit such a gentle transition, move them over at bed time & move the eglu out of their way so they don't fret about going back in there, they get a bit confused when they can't go "home" at bedtime..... I'm glad Pansy has settled into such a lovely gentle girl, it's lovely to hear tales of her occasionally {{hug}} Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NatalieC Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I would put them all in together for the simple reason that the "entry and exit" from classic and cube is so different for the chickens! I had my growers in the classic until they were big enough to go into the cube without the big girls bullying them - its been fine but it took the littlies AGES to get the hang of the ladder and for a long time they just hid under the cube at night time (even a couple of months on they still need a bit of encouragement to go up the ladder at night). They do now manage the ladder in the day when its time to lay but it seems daft to get them settled in one place and then have to move them. I've introduced POL hens and growers to my older girls and its been fine (bit of showing off from the older ones but nothing major). Just have your water pistol at the ready! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
