Wanted Please - Harrogate / York / Leeds area

[House MD 221B]

Penny and Peaky have been living in the Cube for many many months now.

 

We just bought 4 new girls who have been living in the Classic during integration. They now free-range beautifully together, so we decided that tonight was the night to merge them into the Cube. They went in with minimum fuss and seemed to settle quite quickly as they were sleepy.

 

We just went out to check, and Val has gone into the nest with Penny, the other 3 new ones are on the roosting bars. But Peaky had left the cube and gone into the Classic to be on her own.

 

Is she alright? is this normal, is it just a bit claustrophobic for her? Has she been kicked out?

 

Will she be ok in the classic on her own for the night?

 

She was very grumbly, and we picked her up and put her back in the cube. But she instantly wanted to come back out and go into the Classic again.

 

What should we do? pop her back in and shut the cube door?

 

let her sleep in the Classic for the night and then take it away tomorrow so she has no alternative but to be in the cube?

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[chick wiggle]

Was it still quite early when you put her back in the cube?

Its a bit chilly for her to be on her own, it wont do her any harm, but id try to move her now, while its really dark, she'll be less inclined to leave the cube when its dark.

 

Aw sorry, its probably too late now and you've gone to bed.

Let us know how you got on or rather how Peaky got on.

[House MD 221B]

we moved her only a couple of minutes ago and she grumbled quite a lot, I turned the torch off but she just tried climbing down the ladder in the dark.

 

Is it worth putting her in and shutting the cube door?

 

Thank you so much for your quick reply, I must admit I'm a little concerned, not faced this problem before.

 

I'm also worried because she's missing some feathers on her tail which are coming back slowly as Penny was bullying her a little, but she's stopped since she's had new sisters.

 

Not at all, I'll be staying up a little while longer and will check again before going to bed. and dependant on whether or not my concerns are laid to rest or if it is recommendatory to shut her in the cube. again thank you so much for your time and help.

Edited May 6, 2012 by Guest

[chick wiggle]

Oh, hiya, another late nighter!

Mmm, in that case, as she is so adamant, id leave her. With the light mornings they come out very early so unless your prepared to get up at 4.30 am id leave her!

One of mine, a little pekin bantam, sleeps on her own outside of the cube but in the WIR every night and shes fine so dont worry about her, she'll do what she wants to do anyway.

Sleep well and dont worry, she'll be fine

[House MD 221B]

Ok, thank you, we shall leave her, I must admit I'm the worrier, my OH Sally thinks she'll be fine.

 

So we shall leave her for tonight, and tomorrow we will take the classic away and shut the cube door.

 

She didn't appear to be pecked, I think she just felt a little overwhelmed and crowded, she's used to having sooo much space, and 4 new chickens just got dropped on her. And certainly if Val joined them in the roost, she probably just wanted some space.

 

I'll check on her before we go to bed and make sure she's ok.

 

Thank you so very much.

[Redwing]

Hi. I think your plan is a good one.

 

I'd shut her in there with the others for the next couple of nights - chances are she will click and go in there willingly after that but removing the Classic is a good idea.

 

Keep an eye out for any bullying but it sounds to be that this is just a matter if her adjusting to life in the cube with others

[House MD 221B]

ok thank you, we shall take the classic out tomorrow, and shut the cube door. We get up early anyway but I'm sure we'll hear them They will make their desire to be let out known of that I have no dobt. Penny has a right pair of lungs on her.

[chick wiggle]

You have a plan!

Let us know how you and Peaky get on

[House MD 221B]

Thank you both ever so much.

 

Just been out again and she's stayed on her own snuggled up in the nesting box of the classic.

 

We'll leave her for tonight, but she's going to have a shock tomorrow night.

 

Must admit I was quite worried about her. Again thank you. I will let you know how tomorrow goes.

[jackian]

Ever since we had eva and Rosie 3 months ago Eva has slept in with the 2 oldies in the old coup ad Rosie toddles off on her own in the new coup. She goes to bed first and never attempts to go in the old one.

I have not tried to change things as she seems happy. We lost poor Eva last week but nothing has changed although as an out sider looking in Rosie looks lonely.she mixes with the old girls the rest of the day and is bottom of the order of things.bed time. ... Off she goes. Funnily though they all lay the eggs in the new nest box. I think it is because Rosie keeps her house in order ,nice and clean and no poo in the nest box ever.

[sparkysmum]

Similar experience as Jackian. We have a cube In a large fenced off area and a classic in a WIR. Come bed time they all go where they want, some to the cube, others to the classic and one or two only roost on high up perches. occassionally we find a wee lonesome in the cube all by herself. This is simply what thy've chosen to do that night. No worries. It will all be fine. Alli x

[House MD 221B]

Thank you all so much I feel a lot better about the whole thing now. She seems no worse for wear this morning. Guess I was worrying over nothing