Wanted - Eglu Cube Mk1 Roosting Bars

[holistix]

I could really do with some words of wisdom and the benefit of your experience please?

 

On 29 Dec I got three ex-batts. We adored them and fell in love with the whole chicken keeping thing. THen having lost one to some kind of hawk (I'm not a bird watcher so can't be sure what it was but other local chicken keepers have had problems with buzzards), on Tuesday I decided to get two new POL girls.

 

The breeder suggested that I keep them separate in the day but put the new girls in with the other two overnight, and then, depending on how it was going either leave them to it, or separate them in the morning if things were getting out of hand.

 

I did this, but in the morning my old girls launched a vicious and sustained attacked on my new White Star They weren't best pleased with the Black Star either but were too busy attacking the other one to give her too much of their attention.

 

I have now separated them, in an adjoining run during the day and indoors in a cardboard box at night (I don't have any alternative fox proof sleeping quarters). I feed them all treats where their runs join and there have been no spats through the wires since the first day, when my old girls were throwing themselves at the side of the run to try and get to the white star

 

My first question is how long should I continue like this? I can't let them free range together other than when I am out there with them because of the Buzzard? problem (I have seen it circling since too)

 

Also, another chicken keeper friend has said that it will be a real struggle because she is white, and to an ex batt, that has never seen a chicken that looks so different, she will look like an alien and it will take an age to get her integrated. I have thought about seeing if I can take her back and change her for something more similar to themselves but don't really want to, and don't know if this is really necessary.

 

Last but not least, I was about to get an electric fence so that my girls could free range more, but don't think I can now...unless anyone has any buzzard tips

 

I look forward to hearing from you, desperate to hear something positive

 

Thank you

[House MD 221B]

I'm afraid this is a very quick reply, I have no advice on the buzzard short of putting a giant net over your garden... impractical at best

 

however we considered ourselves VERY lucky that our introductions lasted 3 weeks and they were isolated from each other but able to see each other for the whole time seperated by run barrier, and we alternated every few days so that our 1 girl had the run and eglu for a run of 3 or 4 days while the new girls got to free-range and slept in the large pet carrier, then for the next 3 or 4 the 3 new girls had the run and Poach got to free-range. (however Poach got the eglu back at night and the new girls went back in the carrier. Not as difficult as it sounds, shut the eglu door, popped Poach in the egg port and shut it. then opened the run door and the new girls knew where bed was and would go straight into the pet carrier, shut the run door again, open eglu door and out would come surprised poach that no-one was in there.

 

However we expected 6 weeks of this before merging, but we were very lucky that after 3 we felt confident they'd get along, and so we let them free-range together under our supervision and after a few pecks all was well.

 

But I personally would disagree with the breeder, I wouldn't let them roost together until a few weeks in. The slower the better, let the old girls learn that their home / food / treat sources aren't under attack and that they aren't losing out whilst seeing the new girls around, and it sounds like you're doing that by putting treats down where both have access without contact.

 

But I'd expect it to take about 3 weeks minimum.

 

I hope this helps, and that I haven't mis-read anything, please feel free to point out something I've misunderstood.

 

Good Luck.

[Olly]

Oh dear, you sound a bit downcast - don't give up, intros can be tricky but you will get there.

 

There is a school of thought that says 'throw them in together' and it can work, but the slow introduction is usually better. It sounds as if you've read the 'introductions' thread, anyway - you are doing all the right things, e.g. letting them see each other, feeding treats along the shared boundary and so on.

 

Putting them together at night is usually ok (although a lot of work for you), because they are sleepy and slow, and it's unlikely that there will be any pecking; this way they will get to recognise each other's smell, which can help. You may have to do this for two or three weeks while still keeping them apart during the day. I would have said that if they've already had five weeks (six weeks?) of seeing each other during the day, then they should definitely be going in together at night.

 

I would start to let them free range when you can (obviously when you can supervise) and again, try throwing some scattered treats like corn, so that the ex-batts can't hog it all and they have to move together. Do this as often as you can. There WILL be some pecking and squabbling - this is normal. They have to establish who is top chicken, and who is bottom chicken and where everyone else in between perches, and they do this by jumping on each other. As long as blood isn't being drawn, let them get on with it - horrible to watch, but it's not as bad as it seems, and they have to go through this. The White Star may take the brunt of it, but I wouldn't try and replace her, they are used to her by now, and someone has to be bottom of the pecking order.

 

I'd do this as often as you can, until things seem calm and then try putting them in the same run. Sorry, I can't suggest an option for the buzzard question - not something I've had to deal with.

[Redwing]

Some really good advice there

 

If you can identify who the original main aggressor was then you could attempt to integrate the other three leaving her in one half of the run, if the otherthree get on ok then add the bully a week or so later by which time she will have slipped down the pecking order and hopefully will behave better

 

For safety a walk in run is an option but you could also build an outside pen and roof it with netting, large birds tend to avoid netting, posts or canes with plant pots upside down on the top make good props. You'd need to check it regularly in case any birds have got tangled but a visual deterrent like old cd discs can help discourage birds from the netting

[Egluntyne]

I agree with all the above advice re the slow introductions. Also.I always give any new hens at least a week's quarantine, to avoid any illnesses being spread to the others.

 

One extra tip that I have used with good effect is to give them all a little squirt with febreze or some perfume that you aren't keen on. It seems to stop them doing the 'oi, you don't semll like one of us' routine.

 

I've heard the theory about white hens before. In practice, I have found that it doesn't make any difference and have integrated many a white hen into a flock.

 

Keep going! It will take around three weeks for peace to break out totally.

[Plum]

Introductions can be tricky but some manage with the quick approach. I always go for the slow and take it as it goes approach. Don't read any further if you are impatient

 

Your new girls may be quite young and just won't defend themselves. I find they change as they come into lay and find a new confidence. So if I was you I would keep them seperate for however long it takes and let them do all their facing up to eachother through the wire. I wouldn't worry about freeranging together or anything until they can live next to eachother calmly.

 

I kept some of mine apart for 3 months before introductions because they were quite young. However, I introduced a white hen and she jumped over my shoulder and joined the others after a couple of days but she was past POL.

 

If you can't wait that long then I would advice putting lots of obstacles in the run such as flowerpots, logs, stool, branches and nothing next to eachother so they can get trapped. Also several food and water pots at ground and branch level so they can eat in peace when they've jumped out of the way.

 

and give them naughty ex bats a talking to. Good luck

[Cheeky Chooky]

Awww don't feel disheartened...you'll get there I'm of the 'bung 'em all in together at night' brigade and that has worked brilliantly but I've just got 3 Silkies and have separated the run as they are still young and finding their feet. I don't think there's ever one simple answer...more like trial and error

[sparkysmum]

Just a quick word re buzzard. Don't worry about them. Our garden backs onto unused fields and buzzards, kestrels and even the odd red kite visit every day. They have shown no interest whatsoever in the hens, but perhaps we're just lucky. Sometimes they are so close you can almost feel the down draught from their wings. Now sparrow hawks are another story.........don't think the hens would be safe at all. Hope this helps. Alli x

[Old Speckled Hen]

Buzzards won't bother your hens. They are largely scavengers anyway, as are Kites.

Sparrow hawks may take a small chick but unlikely as bird table birds/pigeons are much easier prey. They won't tackle a full grown hen.

[holistix]

Thanks for all your replys

 

I have now separated the run with bamboo canes, and my old girls have the eglu end and the new girls have their bedtime box at the other end. Treats still being fed along the divider, and not too much argy bargy. However, when I first tried it I didn't have enough bamboo to put one in every row, so did alternates. After putting the new girls in their end the first morning I went out for about 4 hours and came back to find the new girls in the eglu and one of my old girls in the the new girls end. The bamboo was still intact so not sure how this happended

 

The good news was that the white one wasn't bleeding this time but was still being savaged. So I duly separated them again and got more bamboo to reinforce the divide. Two days later all is well

 

I have had the new girls for 10 days now so think I will continue with the current regime for another 10-14 days before starting to let them do supervised free ranging together. Does that sound like a reasonable plan ?

 

I am reluctant to do the roosting together simply because it is not very practical for me. I have two little boys, aged 3 and 1 and my husband is not home form work until about 9pm so for me to be out faffing around with chickens at the time of day when I also need to be preparing/serving/supervising dinner bath and bed for the boys just wouldn't work

[jackian]

I have had my new girls 5 weeks now and it took us 4 weeks before peace reigned. I thought I had made a terrioble mistake.

The screaming for hours from one of my old girls was terrible...That got less and less and now no screaming.There was some pecking but nothing a water pistol did not solve.

We did what the others have said seperated them for a week ,but they could see each other .Then we let them out FR seperately for a week and then an hour at a time together.

We have a WIR which we seperated and after 3 weeks cut a whole in it so they could mingle .We added a sliding door so that we could seperate it again if needed.

We have 2 small coups and they used to stay in their own , after 5 weeks I never know who has had a sleep over when I open the coup in the morning. They also lay their eggs in each others nest box...

All is fine and they are best friends..Be patient ,I never thought I would sort it out so quickly ,but it was all advice from this forum.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Good advice above . I would say 10 days isn't long at all in introduction terms. It's taken 6 weeks for one of my introductions but only 3 for the one I've just done. Don't worry, it'll work itself out but you do have to be patient .

 

If you put them together and it doesn't work, just try again a few days later!

[eve]

i just went for it put them together at night and next day let them out.no probs has been a week now.ive got a 4 and 6month old so couldnt really do long intos also only had two banties for a week off my grandad so maybe thats why was so good.

[essexhen]

Introductions are tricky, I've luckily only had one go badly wrong ending in an injured hen - but they got there quite quickly and all was well within a couple of weeks. I had to seperate them in the day and put them in together at night (fox problem) but i kept the door to the cube closed and posted them in through the nesting box - reason being without daylight they are more settled. I put wound powder, purple spray and sudo-cream on the wound to deter the others.