Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[good_egg]

Our neighbours have agreed to us getting two more girls at the weekend. We need permission as our deeds don't let us keep hens and we had previously agreed 3. We don't want to forget our Viv, who will always be the girl that melted our hearts, but the run looks so empty without her and Lulu has been lost while Coco attempted bloodiness. So, we are going up to see the lady we got our girls from on Saturday morning to see what she has. I'm a bit scared though as I have read so many different stories on here about introductions! We only have a cube with an extension so I was going to get them early on Saturday, let the new girls relax/recover for a bit in the FR netting, then let our current girls out as well. Was thinking I could split the netting to start with but will need to get them all to know each other and really all to bed together on Saturday..... Is this completely unrealistic!? Eeeek

[zakjon-98]

Free ranging them together is a good thing to do as the new hens can get away, they will peck each other but you just have to leave them to it unless blood is shed. People on here recommend having a rabbit run or something similar to keep the new hens in for a bit to quarantine them and allow the old hens to get used to them through the run. I have to admit I did not do this as I did not know any better and everything was fine although I did get up early the next morning to allow them to free range again. My first two were docile Sussex chickens so introductions were not too bad and scattering corn is a good idea as it can be a distraction and gets them used to being around each other. Let us know how you get on

[good_egg]

Thank you! Relieved to hear success stories! I am going up on saturday morning so they can have all of saturday day and night FR and then I will get up early (usually 6) on sunday and let them out again. So excited and nervous. My two just now are bickering a bit since we lost Viv and since Lulu is coming in to lay (I hope) so she is fancying herself as a big girl - hoping the general uncertainty around pecking order will aid introductions not vice versa!

[dance in the dark]

Sometimes you can just sort of shove them all together and it's fine. what breed are your girls, and what will the new ones be? The amount of caution can fluctuate depending on size difference and temperament with individual birds.

 

Also if you have a cat carrier and intros don't go too well, you can just let them all out together and keep the newbies in the cat carrier (any kind of pet carrier, secure box, whatever as long as they can breathe) for a couple of nights.

[good_egg]

Our cat carrier is still at the vet, not sure I can face going to get it so might just buy another one for saturday - how many chickens do people fit in one - is it one per carrier? Handy tip for disasters, I hadn't thought of that.

 

Our birds at the moment are a welsummer - Lulu, the one that is hopefully going to lay her first egg soon, and a black rock - coco who has been laying since we got her (about 16 weeks) but is currently not due to having a wee broody attempt! We are getting brids of similar age and hoping for fat and friendly, but need to see what the breeder has when we go up.

[hopingforchickens]

while Coco attempted bloodiness.

Glad to hear you are getting new ones, think this is a great way of describing broodiness!

[good_egg]

ooops - typo, but quite appropriate!!

[Mrs_B]

Good luck! I don't have much to add as I have no experience with intros but I hope all goes well and your new girls settle in quickly

 

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