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

[jasperaliceuk]

Just looking for any pointers from you experts!

 

Our newbies have been here 13 days now. They are in the brand new Eglu Cube and WIR and are quite at home. The oldies are still in their Go. They have been free ranging about the others and the Go is set up just a few feets away with their netting run too so they have been able to see and communicate with each other all the time. They have fed alongside the WIR together. There has been a little posturing and a few sly pecks through the bars from Gwen (who is actually the shyer of the older two so that surprises me).

 

So, next? Was thinking of letting them all free range on grass together for a short while in the Netting run in the late afternoon for a few days and scatter corn for them all, to see how it goes.

 

Then maybe after that put our two oldies in the Cube house late at night? They will be at a disadvantage because it is all new and they will have to work out the ladder but this may work to advantage with the introduction procedure!

 

What does you think?

 

Have been trying to take it as slowly as possible but can't wait to see them all together. I feel a bit sorry for the old girls as they have the boring run while the new ones have all the fun stuff in theirs. Only thing the new ones haven't seen yet is grass!

 

All advice greatly appreciated

 

Sue

[sjp]

try them FR for a couple of hours this afternoon/evening that way the older girls will take themselves of to bed as it gets dark and you'll only have to round up the new girls if they don't take the hint from the older ones

[jasperaliceuk]

Well the decision was made, by mistake, yesterday!

 

Was feeling bad that the two oldies had been in the Go run all day while we were out dog walking and then had to garden in the front garden - so afterwards suggested hubby might free range them while he supervises. Only he thought he meant all of them and I came into the garden to find new and old out.

 

I hustled the netting around the lot of them and attached it to the WIR and scattered corn in the area. The two oldies attempted a few runs at the new ones and there was a bit of squawking and feathers ruffling. The newbies were chased back into the WIR several times but came out again. Polly the Bluebelle seemed the bolder of them. Mimi, our Gingernut Ranger who seems to have been the most relaxed around the new ones when separated by wire turned out to be the bossy one and she instigated most of the 'seeing off'. I think the older ones saw the netting as their territory so this afternoon will give them an unfenced freerange and see what happens.

 

I got some video and will post it later.

 

Sue

[jasperaliceuk]

This is what they got up to yesterday! They've been a bit better today but still prefer to stay separate.

 

 

Sue

Edited October 14, 2011 by Guest

[Chortle Chook]

Well done. It didn't look like there was anything too bad going on. Just a bit of choice b**off language from your ginger hen. She certainly has ideas as to where the others belong.

[jasperaliceuk]

We've had them out together for three consecutive evenings until the younger ones decide to pop to bed. No real nastiness -just the two older ones asserting their authority. The funny thing is watching the young ones scoot out of the way and then they run into each other which sets them posturing amongst themselves!

 

Today we let them out at lunchtime with the run of the WIR and cube and outside netting run. All fine - they tend to still keep separate. We then braved shutting them all in the WIR. The two older ones seem to be in their element digging to Australia and ignoring the others who settle down together. Every now and then they get chased off then its back to digging and preening.

 

Now...I will be going away on Sunday until Thursday. Eldest daughter is in charge. Is it worth putting the two older ones in the Cube late tonight to try and amalgamate them further or shall we wait until I am back - just carry on as we are? And if we do try the Cube route - is that it - if there is no fisticuffs do they stay in the new block for good or should they be separated again in the day, back to the Go?

 

Sue

[jasperaliceuk]

All seems to be sorted.

 

When we came back from Glasgow put the two older girls in the Cube house late at night. They have been together for a few hours in the WIR and netting runs - under the supervision of my daughter while we were away.

 

Let them out early in the morning. Young ones came out first - the older ones were in the nesting box but decided to follow the others out - except they had never negotiated the ladder so they just sort of flew out. Then they mithered about not quite knowing what to do as they obviously wanted to lay - they could see the Go and I think they expected to get it in it. Opened up the back and called Mimi who gaily hopped up the ladder and back into the nest box. Gwen followed but they went up and down about three times before deciding it was safe to lay in the Cube. They've now been altogether for two whole days.

 

So that's it - integrated - they are still in two separate groups and the older ones still have a sly peck and get grumpy over food resources. I've put in several feeders and a couple of glugs. But there doesn't seem to be any major nastiness. Last night the little'uns put themselves to bed followed a while later by the old'uns and peace was reigning when I gave them all a good night stroke.

 

Fingers crossed it continues to improve.