Uma Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Hi all, So my lovely three orpingtons seem to be settling in well. The other three girls have been free ranging around the eglu and I have been feeding them together and all has seemed ok. I let the new girls out yesterday for 5 mins free ranging once the older girls were back in their run. Today I let them all out together..... I was throwing feed for them all and they seemed fine until my older girl top chook went for new girl top chook. They were really going for it so I waded in with a broom to stop them. Then the middle two went for each other as well-not just pecking but proper fighting. I put the new girls back shortly after this. So... I expect them to fight a bit to get everything sorted out, however, how long do I let them do this? It looked as though if I left them to it they would cause damage. But if I stop them, are they getting the oportunity to sort it out, or am I just delaying things? I had hoped I could let them free range together soon...but now I'm not so sure. Help! Uma x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 To be honest, if you want trouble-free integration it can take weeks . The slower you take it, the less chance there is of injury. Supervised freeranging together little and often (perhaps with corn thrown in 2 different directions ?) is a good start. After a while, putting them in to sleep together can help as they'll be too sleepy to fight (just don't leave them locked in together too long in the mornings - one of my new girls had a bit of her comb pecked off once ). Give it time, it requires patience! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 I agree, slow and steady wins the race. When I got my new ex batts, I kept them separate from the old girls for about 6/7 weeks. I divided the run in two using chicken wire. There was a lot of squaring up at the divide to begin with, but this got boring after a week or so and they totally ignored each other. After 6/7 weeks or so, I thought it had reached the point of 'now or never' so I took down the divide and........ absolutely nothing happened All the hens, new and old, were very polite to each other. There has been a bit of chasing, but no fighting or nasty behaviour, and this has largely been solved by putting out lots of feeders and drinkers. Take things slowly and you'll probably find your hens will integrate without too much trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 I am following the plan that Lavendars blue described. For the first week the girls were completely separated, this was intended to be for two weeks for quarantine purposes, but the run was flooding in the heavy rains we had despite trying to cover it, they could see each other. I have now split the WIR with chicken wire, and put in the For the new girls. As the new girls are quite young I will not be risking putting them all together for several weeks. But have found as lavenders blue has described that they squared up to each other for the first couple of days but now don't take much notice other than a cursory glance. I am not even sure they have noticed that lavender, my new Araucana, has changed from a lovely cockerel that I couldn't keep and been swapped for lavender 2 a pretty young girl (fingers crossed!) I did my first intros as a newbie of 8 days, and was told to put the new girls separate for a day then put them in the coop that night then leave them too it. Our Bluebell was very young and had a dogs life for 3-4 weeks. All has settled down now but she still sports a bald patch on her tail. Once the new girls get a bit bigger I will take a couple of days off and free range them all together then start putting them to bed together in the but I am looking at about 6 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Duncan ..We had our new girls the same time and i am going along the same lines..I am in no hurry. Nor are they They are all in their own runs seperated by chicken wire and except for a few screams from the old girls they are all behaving...I reckon 6 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
