cavs cats n chicks Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Any one got any good ideas how to divide the area inside the omlet for night time? We have just given a home to a loan chick from a clutch of 6. She has been with us just a week and I am trying to introduce her to our now loan in a . She is 12 weeks and has been with us a week. The breeder I got her from advised me to pop her in the eglu when Ginger was asleep, which I did the first night, with no problems, she spent the day in a dog crate right next to the big run. I let them out together for half and hour in the afternoon. All seemed fine doing this for the first four nights. Night five was awful as soon as I put her in GN started pecking her and baby was screaming, I removed her to the shed in a cat basket. Yesterday I spent most of the day clearing out the big run, put stanoslan f and sand down then wood chip and moved the dog crate into the big run. After about 3 hours I opened the door and baby wandered out, again they just seemed to ignore each other apart from the occasional peck in passing. Last night tried again and again Ginger pecked baby, who had moved from the nest box where I had put her to the roosting bars, her foot kept slipping and she was screaming, so back to the shed. Today another good day FR together, hubby has rigged a wire screen around the nest box and between the two of them it goes well. Sorry for the long post - any other ideas please folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 I think 12 weeks is just too young - I would keep them apart until she is 20 weeks or so, sorry. I don't have much experience of chicks, but she must be quite a lot smaller and not able to defend herself. I would keep her in the dog crate inside the big run, so they can see each other and get used to each other, and she can sleep in a cat-basket or cardboard box or similar in there; although generally on introductions it is suggested that you put them to sleep together, that is usually for fully-grown hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 What breeds are they both? As Olly says, its best to wait until she's fully grown and intro at 16-18 weeks. Free Ranging ok together is a good thing but the fact that she isn't happy shows it might be a bit too soon. Could you not have 2 chicks from the hatch so she has a companion, at least for the next 4 weeks. It doesn't sound very responsible of the breeder to sell 1 chick, we very rarely do this and will only be after there is a lone hen to introduce it to, but always with hens of 18-20 weeks old. Its always best to introduce 2 if you can Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavs cats n chicks Posted May 14, 2012 Author Share Posted May 14, 2012 She was the only chick left from hatch of 6,which is why I took her to mix with my lonely Gingernut ranger, she is a CLB, they have been FR together in quite a big run with lots of bushes and hiding places. Last night was fine thy both snuggles in their own half of the eglu in sight and smell but not touch of each other, just taking it very slowly and baby has her big dog crate to run to if she needs it. Thank you for your interest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
