Eglu Cube Coop For Sale

[hopingforchickens]

OK this is the first time I've done this, but it is so brutal my 3 existing chooks are about 18 months old. The 2 new girls have come from a friend who is downsizing. One of them is about the same age as my hybrids - but is a sweet little silkie, the other is a bantam Maran, who started laying last week.

 

The new ones are in a run within the run, see below;

 

 

I've let them get used to eachother for a week, but have let them all out to free range in the garden over the last couple of days. The first day Tallulah (bottom of original pecking order) was evil to Mrs P - the silkie, the second day they all ganged up on her together, she just hunches down in the middle. Both times I've gone in and scooped her up. Is there anymore I could be doing? Would letting the new ones out with one of the old ones at a time help? They are leaving the bantam Maran alone, I think I could throw her in the main run without any problems, but it breaks my heart to see poor Mrs Pompom being targeted like this.

 

I've read the stickies, but if anyone has any experience of this situation I'd be very grateful. x

[zakjon-98]

Chickens are horrible to each other sometimes aren't they I would just carry on keeping them separate and taking it slow. Silkies are often bullied because of their nice natures but hopefully it will settle down in time. I personally would keep the marans with the silkie as I wouldn't want her to be lonely. Hope it settles down soon

[hopingforchickens]

Thanks, I've got no intention of separating them, just emphasizing how well they have taken to her. It's just so awful to watch.

[zakjon-98]

I does often look worse than it actually is generally I've found. It's when blood is drawn it becomes a problem as they will all start pecking at it I was lucky with introductions as my first two were docile sussex and they settled down pretty quickly. Love your setup btw

[auntielizzie]

I'm in the middle of intros too! I have had three new girls for three weeks and two days (Betsy, Bertha and Mrs Beaky). They are living in an eglu which is right next to the big coop where Betty and Bessie live (the two original girls). I let them out to FR together most days in the morning before I go to work for about half an hour and when I get home from work until it gets dark and they all go to bed. At the weekends they are out when I am in (if you know what I mean).

 

I am taking things very slowly and little by little things are improving, although I still very much have two separate sets of chickens - a pair and a three. They are not really mixing very much, although have at least got to the point now where Betty and Bessie will let the new girls explore and peck about in all zones of the FR area without harrassing them. However, if the new girls get too close to them or get in the way, or if there is food about, then Betty and Bessie round them up and chase them into either one of the runs.

 

My problem is that Betty and Bessie have particularly seemed to take a dislike to little Betsy. She is a speckeldy. She seems to be the main target when they are in one of their bossy moods. On more than one occasion, either one of them has actually sat on top of her and pecked her about the neck and head. No blood has been drawn and most of the time (if not all the time) I have been keeping an eye and have seen them at it so have gone and shouted at them and then they run off.

 

At the moment I can't see a time when I will have a fully integrated flock of five, but I live in hope that sooner or later this will be how it ends up. I'm thinking that with the time of year now and the darker days coming, that will be the time when I maybe start popping the new girls in with the big girls at night time. That way, it will still be dark when I get up in the morning to let them out, so if there's any argy bargy I will be there to sort them out. Depending on how that goes, from that point I am hoping I can start to move on to leaving them all in the same run together all the time.

 

It seems to be a long drawn out process, but I am trying to stay very patient so as not to have any setbacks. It is a bit frustrating sometimes and a bit worrying as they can really hurt each other if things do get out of hand. Eventually I suppose I will have to bite the bullet and let them get on with it. Good luck with yours and I hope your little silky gets a break soon.

 

Liz

[sjp]

I'd let the new girls free range on thier own for a while so they get to know the area first that way they will have an idea of all the safe places then when it come to FR them all let the new girls out first so the get time to move away from the run. it's not nice watching intros but as long as no blood is draw you have to let them get on with it but be ready to step in if things get out of hand and pick up the main trouble maker and put her on her own for a time out

and be prepaired for it to take a while for them to become one mob and a water pistol or a small plant sprayer is a usefull bit of kit for intros

[hopingforchickens]

Thanks, that's some really good advice, I've been letting the little ones out last - although Mrs Pompom found the perfect hiding space today, under the guinea pig run, so much so that I couldn't get her out I have a water pistol so I will give that a go, but so far I have found my foot a good peacemaker (don't worry I don't kick them or anything!).

 

I know it's going to take some time and the newbies are quite happy in their little enclosure, they have already settled down a lot in the WIR so I guess we're moving forward...

[Miggy]

Our intro went badly as well. Poor Scruffy got picked on something rotten, we kept the WIR separated with garden trellis putting them together for a short time each day. Took a full 8 weeks to intigrate but now they are best mates.

[hopingforchickens]

Thanks Miggy that's good to know, I don't mind how long it takes, the best mate bit sounds good!

[auntielizzie]

Think I will try letting the new girls out first as well - that makes sense. Thank you.

[charly1979]

I had a bad intro with one of mine recently but with time they are all happy now and established the pecking order which on some days they seem to forget and they all peck each other daft birds

 

Hope yours settle soon x

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm in the middle of intros too. Thankfully, it's going OK - mainly, I think, due to the size of my new girls. They are actually bigger than the oldies. There is a bit of posturing and running at them but they just run away. I've been letting them all freerange together on the days I'm off work and they all sleep in the WIR (new in the eglu, old perched up high as normal). I'm slightly worried about leaving them all in the WIR next week so think I may put the newbies back into the eglu run on the grass during the day.

 

My advice would be not to panic and just take it as slowly as you need to. It took about 7 weeks for one of my introductions.

Edited September 29, 2012 by Guest

[hopingforchickens]

Thanks everyone it's good to know I'm not alone, next time I do intros I'm going to buy the biggest chickens I can find!!!