Bex Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 Sadly we had to have one of our chickens put to sleep this week, leaving only 2 left, their new walk in run that I had built now looks very big for 2. What is people's advise about adding more girls this time of year or should I wait till spring? I also have fallen for some lavander pekins, what are your thoughts about mixing bantams with my goldlines? Has anyone done this successfully. Any tips would be really appreciated. I have an eglu and a 2 meter by 3 walk in run. Thanks allot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 Sorry to hear about your chicken Many people have bantams and large fowl together but it needs to be done slowly. A sectioned off part of the run with a cat carrier in or a rabbit hutch is a good idea to put them in at first plus free ranging together. Separate feeding stations are good and I found that free ranging them and scattering corn is good so they get used to being around each other. You could get them this time of year but I personally would wait till next year so I could watch them without it being too cold and longer nights to free range them till. Welcome to the forum btw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bex Posted September 22, 2012 Author Share Posted September 22, 2012 Thanks for your advice, I think I will wait till the spring, it seems to make sense. Its good to be in touch with such a wealth of information and kind advise here on the forum for the newbe chicken keeper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 It would be an ideal time to add another couple of hybrids to the pair you have. Hopefully they would come into lay over winter while your oldies are taking a rest and moulting. If you have a large walk in run, it will be easy enough to introduce them as well, just make sure there are plenty of high up perches for the new girls to get out of reach of the oldies. I would be hesitant about adding two young pekins to older hybrids. Young pekins will be so much smaller and less able to escape any bullying than young hybrids. If you really wanted to get pekins I would recommend splitting your walk in run in two and having the pekins in the other half. I've done that with mine and it works well. But even after 12 months of eyeballing each other, the hybrids attack the pekins if they get chance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 Hi, I have just added 5 POLs to the group tonight! Purely for the reason said earlier, that my 1yr olds are dropping off lay and moulting. The hope is that the newbies begin to lay over the winter. I have separated the run to introduce slowly as they are younger. I would be cautious introducing new much smaller hens as they will be picked on. I suggest the slowly slowly approach as I have been advised by others. Good luck. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
