smartrus Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 (edited) Hi, all. I have had the newbies in a divider in the main run for 3 weeks now. The older hens have been eyeing them up with the 'just you wait' look and have ground down a trench along the dividing fence through pacing! I have let both groups out into separate areas of the garden to FR so the newbies have had the opportunity to find hiding places if they need to. We are about to put a new shed up this weekend which is large enough for both groups to live in. So I plan to open the gates to the whole garden on Thursday for the grand meeting. I am very nervous about the outcome. I just hope it doesn't descend into world war 3!!!!! Any tips very welcome!! Edited October 28, 2012 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Giving them the garden together is the best thing but also having separate feed bowls are good as some people find the old hens won't let the new ones by the food. Hope its not too bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted October 9, 2012 Author Share Posted October 9, 2012 Thanks, each group has their own food and water bowl so hope that works. Will update thursday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 It may not be as bad as you think . I had my newbies in an Omlet run on the grass, within sight of the oldies, for a couple of weeks. I then bit the bullet and put them all in together for a few days when I could let them freerange most of the day. Apart from a few lunges and a bit of posturing, it's all gone remarkably well and they get on fine now. I even leave them in the WIR together all day when I'm at work. They sleep separately but that's their choice. Good luck, hope you're as lucky as I was . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted October 10, 2012 Author Share Posted October 10, 2012 Thats good to know. Is it ok that they chase each other or should I step in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Yes, that's fine, it's part of establishing the pecking order. I would only step in if they pin down a newbie (sometimes they'll crouch rather than run away ) or you see them draw blood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted October 10, 2012 Author Share Posted October 10, 2012 OK, well tomorrow is the grand meeting day! Will let you know what happens! Just one more question, (sorry to keep asking but I haven't done it before) should I leave the gate to the run open so the newbies can run home or keep them out to face the music? My worry is that the older hens will round them up and block corner them in the run!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 I would give them as much opportunity to run away as you can, especially at the very beginning . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted October 11, 2012 Author Share Posted October 11, 2012 OK, so I did it! I let the newbies out and then the older hens. They did quite a lot of chasing but no pecking so far . I ended up shutting the run gate as the newbies spend the time running back in and staying there. I thought they have to meet some time so I put them in the largest part of the garden together putting down plenty of meal worms and corn as a distraction. A couple of the hens chased the others quite a lot and they then spent the time behind a bush! I didn't force the issue, rather just left them. We have now put up a new shed ready for them all to live in. The idea is to put the newbies in for a couple of nights so that it is their patch, and then put the older hens in with them at night. What do you think? I will let them all out to FR again tomorrow in a smaller part of the garden, hopefully they will learn to accept each other. I really didn't think that the older hens would tackle the whole group of newbies as they would be out numbered, boy were they not bothered by that and waded straight in!! Im a bit nervous about the time coming when they are all in the run together!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 I think putting the new hens in the new house first is a good idea. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 I agree, that sounds like a good idea . Sounds like it went well on your first day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted October 11, 2012 Author Share Posted October 11, 2012 So far so good. Not counting my chickens though!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 Well, day 3 now of FR together. I tries to put all chickens in the smaller part of the garden together which resulted in quite a lot of chasing unless distracted with meal worms! however there are only so much you can do. In the end I just let them get on with it. The older hens would ignore the newbies unless they got too close, they wouldn't seek them out which is good I suppose but in the end the newbies had enough and retreated behind a bush! I then let the older ones into the other part of the garden to give them all a break? I am now unsure if this is the way to go. Does any one know how long this will go on for? I have just finished the new shed and plan to put the newbies in tonight and would like to put them all in asap! However, the shed has an electric door which opens as first light and I don't like the idea of a fight breaking out whilst im not there! Do I need to wait until they FR completely before I take the next step? Soo many questions!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 I would let them FR together in the garden if they have bushes to hide in and just leave them to it unless 1 hen is constantly pecked badly or blood is drawn. It varies in how long it will last but to settle down completely it is usually about 3 ish weeks but it can be longer. It seems that it either works near enough straight away or it can take a few weeks. I would put them together in the shed when you feel they tolerate each other a bit more first. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 I agree, keep them together. It takes about three weeks for them to 'gel' as a group, no matter how long they have been able to 'see' each other for. As long as the newbies have places to hide, leave them to it. They will come out gradually as they get more confident and the oldies forget to send them away again. Lots of sprinkling treats helps as they temporarily forget themselves and share. High up perches also helps as the newbies will retreat to the perches for safety. As long as they get access to food and water, they will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auntielizzie Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 I did my intros very slowly but after five weeks they are now all living together quite happily. They are all in the run together all day while I'm out at work and they are all sleeping together in the house. It wasn't anywhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be. We still have the odd peck going on by the old girls and at night-time the two groups roost at opposite ends of the house But I am very pleased with how it has all gone. They have plenty of feed and water stations but they quite happily share the greens which I hang up in the middle of the run. I started off with the newbies in a separate eglu and run next to the original girls' run, then after about two weeks started letting them FR together under supervision. Once of twice one of the big girls would pin one of the newbies down and give them a good peck (the new girls would just crouch and let them do it ). After a couple of weeks of that I would shut them all in the run together for short periods and then eventually I bit the bullet and let them all go in to bed together. Your intros do sound like they are going very well along the same lines, so it shouldn't be very much longer for you I think. It is lovely when you finally manage to get the intros done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 Thanks guys, you are so knowledgeable! I am still learning, so slowly does it! I will let them out each day until they settle. At least the newbies have a nice new shed until they are invaded! They have been cramped up in an eglu and have now outgrown it. (Very stinky!! ) I have also completely re done the run floor and bought chain to hang treats so they have plenty to do when the time comes! Thanks again for advice.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 Hey! I've just been down to do a quick chicken check and found one on top the fence who didnt make it in before the electric door went down, and found the other 4 all squashed in to one nest box rather than on the perch we spent all afternoon making! Not the best start! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 That sounds like chickens, alright . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted October 14, 2012 Author Share Posted October 14, 2012 I know!! Quite entertaining really! I don't really know how to combat this! I picked up all the birds and put them on the perch! They protested a bit but otherwise fine. I wonder if I should prop the door open for a bit till they get the idea? But then whats the point of having an electric door!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 I would try propping the door open for a few days till they all get the hang of going to bed at dusk. Once they get into the habit, they may all make it in before lockdown . Re the perches, keep putting them where you want them for a few days and they may get into the habit. Or they may not, that's chickens . I have a lovely eglu which none of mine would sleep in - it was a very expensive nestbox . Thankfully, my 2 new girls sleep in it now so at least it's getting used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted October 14, 2012 Author Share Posted October 14, 2012 I think I will do that! Im sure they will get the hang of it!. Im very pleased with my shed even if they are not!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted October 15, 2012 Author Share Posted October 15, 2012 Well, day 2 of the new shed and the newbies found the door and the roost! clever them. However, the chasing by the older hens has increased a bit but I suspect that this is due the the newbies bravery as they are hiding far less then before and venturing out more. They actually fed together for a brief moment yesterday! Im hoping these are all good signs of them mixing slowly but surely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted October 19, 2012 Author Share Posted October 19, 2012 So, we are now on week 3 of FR together. We are at a bit of a stand still as although the newbies are braver, the chasing and pecking continues and they retreat back to the run or behind a bush. I am not confident enough to put them in the run together yet as there is less space for them to get away. I am going to continue FR them for each afternoon for another week and see if there are any improvements. I really hope so as I could do with them all being in the shed together very soon! On the plus side, I am now getting 7 eggs a day!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Sounds like it's going well . I'd think another week is a good idea, I'm sure that will make a difference. It's such a relief when you know they're all getting on and you don't have to worry about the babies any more . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
