the power Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 We have just introduced two new chickens (bluebell, speckledy) into the Eglu, the problem is they will not come out of the eglu when the original two are in the run. They seem very flighty and just charge around and back into the eglu on the sight of either of the other two chickens. Any advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 have they freeranged together happily outside the run? i've heard that when outside the run groups of chickens get on better...so maybe a few short free ranges together around the garden may get them aquainted with each other and this could improve the run situation? I dont have any experience of adding new hens im afraid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the power Posted June 27, 2007 Author Share Posted June 27, 2007 yes I have let them out to free range and they stick in their groups of two, and as soon as the older chickens come near they run back towards the eglu. The older ones are being quite agressive when in the run (which has an extension section to give them more room). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 any chance you can give them some more free range time? I find that quite often when mine come out of the run into the open area, there's a bit of neck fluffing and facing each other off, but they settle very quickly once they realise they have more space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 Scatter a few treats for them to share when free ranging. If they are distracted enough to eat together it is a start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah 2 Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 I have no idea if this is any help. We got Toffee on Saturday. When we got home the other 2 were free ranging so I put her in the run so they could check each other out. When it was time for them to go to bed I had them all in the run together. I lasted about 2 minutes before I got Toffee out, I couldn't bare to see any pecking. I keep Toffee in a box until it was dark then posted her through the egg port. In the morning things seemed to be going well until Polly (boss) started picking on her again. So I let them out to free range for the whole day. They didn't really let Toffee eat much to begin with. she soon relised that she could sneak back into the run when the others weren't looking. And Polly stood on her for the whole of the 2nd night. But now they seem to getting on fine. Letting them free range together definitely seems to make it a lot easier. Mine are out from 9am til 9pm. They love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KTee Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 Recently we got 2 Omlet Gingernuts and they were in the Eglu for 5 nights we then introduced 2 very slightly younger birds, a Black Rock and a Snow White. As advised here and by the breeder we popped the newcomers into the Eglu in the dark. Next morning there was some hassle but not too vicious. After 3 days the Black Rock was more or less accepted but the smaller Snow White was pushed out repeatedly. Fortunately she is very quick and agile. Now after 10 days she is just about accepted but is much more nervy than the others. She generally waits until the others are scratching about in the run before she uses the Glug and feeder. Despite this she has started laying so we don't think that she is coming to any harm. We just make sure she gets treats equally with the others. The Black Rock was the first to lay and one of the Gingernuts has still to 'produce'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
