Unsecure chicken perches

[libby22]

Hi

 

I lost my lovely Polly today. She had EYP a few months back and I managed to get her through. She was her normal full of beans self until Monday, when she started with the runny poos again. She went back on the Metacam however, was eating well and munching through her share of the maggots. Today she was quiet and I fetched her in for a closer look this afternoon as her comb had turned pale. Within minutes she started to convulse and then threw up a lot of liquid. I held her forward gently for a few seconds and back up so that she could breath. She sat quiet and simply drifted away. I had no idea she had sour crop as she did not have a swollen crop until this morning. I am not sure if the EYP had returned or whether it was the sour crop - she hadn't laid for four months. She had a lovely life, was thoroughly pampered and was looking forward to her first birthday in November. I will miss her so very much.

 

My thoughts now go to my two chickens. They looked so tiny in the Cube when I locked them up for the night just now and I wonder if I should add a third bird? Will they be cold over the winter with just the two of them? I have never had any bullying or problems and am concerned about introducing another bird who may cause problems. Would a very young bird be any good or will they perhaps attack it? I just don't know enough to proceed without help. Any help you could give would be so gratefully received.

[charly1979]

Sorry to hear your news

 

The only thing I would say is that I have recently added to my flock. I added Judith when I had just Fliss, Marliyn and Pricilla but it didnt go well a very long story but I ended up having to get Connie to pair her with Judith as I was getting some bullying issues, luckilly it worked and after an inital seperation of my girls I have been able to put them all together. Judith and Connie now seem to always be together but mix well with the others.

 

I have now heard that it can be difficult to add just one bird to a group, although as you only have the 2 it may be different.

 

Either way I hope it all goes well for you

[good_egg]

Having recently attempted the "much younger" theory I can say it does not work. I think if you are getting more then it needs to be the same number (or more) and of about the same age (or at least 20 weeks). Sorry to hear about Polly, so sad. Good luck with more hen decisions.

[libby22]

Thank you both so much. Horrible day.

 

That has given me a lot to think about. I really don't want to put the girls through any trouble if I can avoid it so perhaps it is just a case of buying the winter cover for the Cube to make sure they are nice and warm! I did enjoy having three birds but can appreciate now that I could make them all dreadfully unhappy in order to just add one more.

 

Perhaps when the spring comes I may look at adding two together, as you suggest. Thank you both so very very much.

[zakjon-98]

Sorry to hear about Polly

When introducing new birds it is always best to do it by at least 2 birds and I agree that you should definitely get them at POL rather than younger. Introductions can be nasty sometimes but there is lots of good advice on here about how to do it. I wouldn't worry about them being cold as they have their feathers for warmth and I leave my eglu door open all year round for them to come out on their own in the mornings. I would get some more if you can though but would personally get some either very soon or wait till next year. Good luck

[libby22]

Hi

 

Thanks so much. I am happier that you think they will be warm enough as that is my first concern. After that, it is more the case that if something happens to one of them the other will be alone. I think I may let it all sink it and look at it next year, as you say.

 

I see that you are also in the West Mids. Seems to be a lot of us with chickens here!

 

Thanks again.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I agree with the others that you need to add at least 2 new girls . I'm in the process of adding 2 POLs to my other 3 girls (who are between 16 and 6 months old). If you can rig up separate acccommodation and take things slowly, introductions can be fine (you just have to be very patient and vigilant in case they pick on the new girls). Your two girls will be fine for now, so just give it some thought, there's no hurry .

[libby22]

That's good to hear. I think I am rushing into it a bit, especially after all that has happened today. It was just seeing them looking so tiny in the Cube! I think I will give myself some time, see how it goes and if I still think I need to increase the flock, add two girls later on. If I do get POL, will they be ok with my two by then? They are 10 months old at the moment. If they are 18 months old and I add two POL would that matter?

 

Thank you so much for your help.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I've added 2 or 3 girls at POL every year for the past 4 years with no particular problems apart from the normal pecking order nonsense they all insist on .

[Purplemaniacs]

Like the previous replies I would not add one, I would add two or three depending on your run space.

 

I would go for POL unless you have seperate accomadation to grow on younger girls to the POL stage.

 

Sorry to hear about Polly, what a lovely name for a chook

 

My remaining ex batt is on her own in an eglu in a sectioned off part of the WIR, she seems happy as she has the contact of the hybrids who are in the other part with the cube. I might try to mix them together at the half term break as I wonder if Agnes would be too cold on her own in the winter.

 

Chrissie

[libby22]

I think you are right. I have Pickles and Pepper left, both of whom are calling for Polly this morning and are quite distressed. However, Pepper has the potential to bully I think and one hen on her own may be in trouble. I would like to add two but am not sure if I have the room.

 

I have the Omlet Cube with a run about 12 - 14 feet long and just as wide as the Cube. Do you think that would be big enough for four?

 

Thank you all so much, it has been such a comfort to speak to people who understand.

[williamspencer98]

get some hatching eggs! add some fun and excitement, at least then they'll have company and raise chicks, it's very cute to see, sorry to hear the bad news. X

[libby22]

Oh my goodness! Can I do that? Would they accept them? I had no idea it was possible. Would I run the risk of having roosters if I bought the hatching eggs? It would be a lovely idea and I have someone at home all day to be with them. Have you done this before? Thank you so much for the suggestion and so sorry for the million questions, just such a nice thought after the sadness yesterday.

[zakjon-98]

I would love to hatch. You need either a broody hen or an incubator (these can be hired) to hatch them but you will need other accommodation as they can't be mixed into a flock until POL ideally. You will almost certainly get cockerels when you hatch unfortunately. It's a great thing to do, especially if you want tame hens but could be costly to buy things such as an incubator, lamp etc. I would definitely wait till next year to hatch though as otherwise you could end up with chickens in your house for longer due to the cold

[libby22]

Thank you for coming back to me - that has really given me food for thought! I shall wait until the spring and have a look into things further. Really cheered me up. Thanks again.

[libby22]

After all the helpful advice given, it seems a whole new world of chicken keeping has opened up to me. I am going to reserach two options. The first is to buy two new girls POL, in the spring and introduce them carefully over time to my two existing girls.

 

The second option is to buy two cream legbar chicks, hand raise them and then when they are old enough, construct a run next to my existing one for them to get used to my girls over a few weeks, before they are fully integrated with them at POL age.

 

The cream leg bar of course so that I can ensure they are girls. Not sure if this is the only breed that you can do this with. I would need a lot of equipment I appreciate and it seems March is the best time to begin so I have lots of time to read books, articles, the chick raising secion of the forum and anything else I can get my hands on.

 

However, after the sadness of having my lovely Polly die in my arms, this new chapter has arrived. Whatever happens, the first bird will be called Polly!