Margaret Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 I need some advice please fellow Omleteers please. As some of you know I now have 2 new little ladies thanks to Chubby Chook This weekend I am goin to try and get them altogether in the garden, but from previous experience my lovely old ladies turn into thugs so...... I have brought bumper bits from Omlet and what I want to know is... Should I fit them before anything nasty happens? Is it better to prevent any fighting befor it starts or am I being cruel/ Any advice would be gratefully received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 I wouldnt fit them just yet. How long have you had the news ones? Have the old and new been able to see each other? I would pick a time when you have the time to sit and watch them and just see how they get on, they may surprise you and save you (and them) all the stress of fitting bumper bits. You could also have a water pistol to hand to give them a quick squirt to shock them out of any aggresive behaviour. Just be prepared to jump in if nesasary! Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted May 11, 2012 Author Share Posted May 11, 2012 Have had the little uns for a week this weekend, in the same run but seperated from each other. Lots of shouting to start with from the big girls and still lots of pacing going on still. On their second day, and with me being away visiting my sister the little uns escaped into the big run, thank goodness my daughter was there and soon seperated them, no harm done but think it could have been terrible. We had to come home and re enforce their space. Daughter was furious with me, for not making it safe, but was sure I had, is definetly like colditz now with no escapees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clucking_Mad Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 Hi Margaret, When I introduced 1 new girl to my existing 2 girls all hell broke loose we had kept them seperated for a few weeks and then started to let them FR with supervison. However my girls would not leave the new one alone so we got some bumper bits and put them on our existing 2 girls which made FR them all together a lot easier as they soon gave up trying to peck the new girl as it was getting them no where. After around 2 - 3 weeks we removed the bumper bits and they were all fine together. The new girl is bottom of the pecking order so does get the occasional peck when food is envolved bt nothing to worry about. If I had known then what I know now I would never had introduced just 1 girl but we was given some bad advice. The bumper bits worked for me but they were my last resort as it did stress the girls out to begin with which really upset me but they soon got used to them and settled down. Laura x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 1 week is a bit quick for introducing them im afraid, you can try it but I'd be prepared to keep them seperated for a few more weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
House MD 221B Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 We're with Chick Wiggle, we have done two introductions, and both times it was 3 full weeks before we allowed them into the same space together even the whole garden. In our humble opinion 1 week is far too quick. Even with 3 we felt we were very lucky and had planned for 6-8 weeks before allowing them together, but they just seemed ready and at peace with each other. I would leave it at least 2 more weeks, see if they start sitting together (but separated by the partition etc.) Once you get signs like that, that's an indication that they're a little more used to the new girls. And I'm sure bumper bits are fine, but personally my wife and I don't like the look of them, I understand they are widely used, and I'm sure they are a last resort, if another chicken is being harmed, but we personally believe they should NOT be a first resort. Allow them time and you shouldn't need them at all. Others may disagree re: bumper bits, that's just our feelings on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 Ours was 3 weeks . Like House MD we expected it to be longer as it was a new experience and we were just going by advice from on here. They could see each other all the time and FR seperately for a while , there was some weeping , wailing and barging for a few days but that was it . . Maybe we were lucky., 3 months on ...The best of friends Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 A week down the line and my oldies and newbies continue to scowl at each other thro canes and mesh. Jez has become a mistress of cane removal (she reminds me of Tommy Cooper when he was slotting cardboard tubes over bottles and glasses except she using canes) - she pulls one out and rearranges another - what a tart. i am dreading intro time - I thought 2 would be easier to mix with 2 but now I am having doubts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
