jackian Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 We had our new girls Eva a Miss Pepperpot and Rose a very tiny Ginger ranger on Monday ,they are in seperate WIR from the "old girls"but close together and does not seem to be a lot of pecking etc.,between the netting except a lot of screaming from one of our other 2 girls (this has got less and sad to say seems to be first thing in the morning when they come out of the coup ) We hope to let them out for a while together at the weekend. Should this be the old girls first then the new girls or the other way round? ...Rose is very tiny probably only about 16 weeks and very nervy (but very pretty )Eva I think is older ,more like 25 - 30. I know there will probably be a s"Ooops, word censored!" or two but should i let them both out or leave little Rose in for longer until she has found her feet more ? The two new new ones seem to get on really well together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 I would be tempted to leave it a bit longer, in view of the fact that Rose is so much younger than the others, tbh. It will do no harm to keep them as they are, in fact it may make eventual introductions easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 don't let the older ones near your young pullet yet - 16 weeks just isn't old enough to bear up to the potential bullying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Yes, she's a bit young. When you do choose to mix them, let the new ones get control of the space first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heth1986 Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 She does sound young but... When I introduced my new girl I put her in the nesting box with the others after dark and let them out into the big run together in the morning. I sat and watched them all day expecting something to kick off but I can honestly say they didn't make a peep! There was a bit of a "ooh, who on earth are you?" moment when they first came out but that was it. I don't know if it was because they'd got used to each others smell overnight in the dark whilst they were calm or if it was because I was introducing 1 on 1 (original chuck, Betty, sister got foxed the day before so newbie, Ram Jam, was an emergency purchase!) or because Betty was a tad traumatised by the fox incident but it certainly worked for those two. Just an idea, I'm sure it wont work for every chuck and my 2 are super calm, but it may help putting her in over night for a few nights when she's a bit bigger? I've also heard that rubbing a bit of garlic on the backs of their necks helps so that they all smell the same helps??? I'm sure you'll get lots more advice and input on this suggestion, Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted January 19, 2012 Author Share Posted January 19, 2012 Thank you for your replies and great advice. , I am going to take it gently . They can see each other all the time and except for Poppies chanting in the morning everything is fine. The 2 new girls are in a 4m x 3 metre run so I think they should be fine for a few weeks at least. I am reckoning that the longer they take to get used to each other being around the better. My first attempt at mixing so want to get it right . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 I'm sure you are doing the right thing - your new girls will be fine in their run until Rose is big enough to hold her own with your other girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzannejoy Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 I was in a simalar situation when I got 6 ex bats and had to introduce them to my 3 posh ladies . I left it at least 4 weeks before introductions . They could see each other I had the run next to the cube run . When introductions were made all hell broke loose and I used a water sprayer ( gently spray) to part the fighters . I was left with one that just wouldnt fit in to the gang this was several months later . We named her paula and paula became such a state she was already bald anyway but with the posh ones having a go at her as well become a sorry sight . I had to take the decision of separating her again . She lived next door to all the others for 3 months before I waited to dark one night and put her in the nest box . The following morning I rushed out to see what was happening and they were fine .It was such a relief I had spent months wondering if Id made a big mistake getting more .But patience was the key . They all live in harmony now . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashjc Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 I recently introduced two new 20 week old hens to my existing two. We only wanted 1 chicken but the breeder said it was better to have two as they would be less likely to get picked on. At the time I had the cube run with a 1 metre extension. I purchased a cube run end panel and split the run in half using this. Had a temporary nesting area in the non cube end so they could see each other every day. We had it like this for about a week then started to let them loose in the garden for the final hour of the day to get used to each other in a neutral territory. After the 2nd week we bit the bullet and put them in the full run (had purchased the WIR by this point) making sure we had 3 seperate feeders and drinkers in there spread around. They were absolutely fine from day one... now all huddled up snuggly together in the cube.. you wouldnt know they were two seperate pairs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted January 20, 2012 Author Share Posted January 20, 2012 Ashjc Your WIR sounds very like ours seperated in 2 halves (except no cube ) We have 2 coups. We only wanted 1 also but told we needed 2 but they are lovely girls and already i know they will be OK. We were going to do what you suggested and so that is the way to go I reckon. My biggest problem is Poppy "old girl" the noise she makes for about half an hour when she comes out in the morning..On Monday it was 3 hours so we are improving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...