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[Luvachicken]

Tomorrow I intend to introduce all of my chicks to my 2 older chickens.

Queenie and Lucie are around 25 weeks now, and Suzie and Gemma are younger but I'm not quite sure exactly how old. They are all bantams and so are Myrtle and Melody who are about 1 and 3/4.

 

For the last couple of months the chicks have been in the wooden part of my run whilst the 2 chickens have been in the omlet 3m run. They have all been able to see each other. In the morning I hope to swap them over so the chicks can find their way around the cube and run, then later in the afternoon let them meet each other.

 

I have Stalosaned everything tonight in the cold ready for tomorrow.

 

I have read that the roosting bars should be taken out and replaced with bedding, is this correct, and if so when can I put them back in ? Will it be when they all lay eggs or when they have reached a certain age ?

 

I am ready with my water pistol and they have got a new branch and some veg, but is there anything I should be doing ?

Thanks x

Edited October 27, 2012 by Guest

[good_egg]

Good luck with the intros. No need to take out the roosting bars unless the youngsters are under 14 weeks - my little ones are now at least 17 weeks old and have been on the bars since the baby was 14 weeks.

[mimi5]

When I've done intros (twice now) the advice I got was to pop them in together at night (when they are sleepy) and then let them come out together in the morning. Before I get to that point they have been as you say in separate coop/run, but in sight of each other. You will get some chasing and the odd peck, but keep an eye out and make sure that you dot about extra feeders. Also if you can be around for atleast the first few days (I did intros over the weekend) to keep an eye out for any trouble I think it's a good idea.

 

Mine have all been together for 3 weeks now and there's still the odd curfuffle and the 2 original girls are still greedy over food!!! I think the pecking order is still not set, so I expect the odd curfuffle will continue......me rushing out to see what all the noise is about!! Thankfully never any blood drawn!! I see them preening together in the afternoon and they seem to cuddle up in the cube at bedtime!

 

Hope it all goes well!

[Luvachicken]

Thank you both.

So far things haven't been too bad.

I put the chicks into the back end of the cube this morning so they had to come out down the ladder.

The 2 original girls were very excited to be let back into the wooden area.

Then later this afternoon everyone got to meet each other.

Myrtle and Melody have been showing them who's boss, and although there has been the odd peck and a bit of running and dodging, not much else has happened.

I just hope the little ones know where to go at bedtime, they have been so used to sleeping in the cat box.

[Luvachicken]

Bedtime was fun

 

Myrtle and Melody as usual took themselves up the ladder to bed.

The chicks though were pacing up and down waiting for their bedtime cuddle. I'd already decided not to give them a cuddle tonight so they could watch the others up the ladder, but they were so busy waiting for me they weren't concentrating. And how could I reisist their little faces looking for me - so they got their cuddle.

But then they cried when I left as their cat box had gone and so had I.

In the end, I had to clamber in the run and put them through the door with hubby gently closing it, but each time I got them in another would pop out . Finally all 4 were in there with the door firmly shut. I hope they sleep well but who will tell them the clocks change tonight and that I might not be up so early to let them all out.

[mimi5]

Well done, that all sounded fine!! Sorry I replied too late to your previous post, I didn't look at the date!!!! Hopefully intros will continue as well as today!

 

Let's hope they'll forgive us a little extra time in bed!!??

[Luvachicken]

Well done, that all sounded fine!! Sorry I replied too late to your previous post, I didn't look at the date!!!! Hopefully intros will continue as well as today!

 

Let's hope they'll forgive us a little extra time in bed!!??

 

That's ok, it doesn't matter about the late reply, all advice is gratefully received

 

As for getting up, I still got up at 7 chicken time but 8 our time. I didn't like the thought of them trapped in together for too long.

There have been a few pecks so far and quite a lot of dodging about but nothing too bad. But then today is their first full day together.

[Luvachicken]

Bedtime was a lot easier tonight.

All the littlies were still playing and Melody and Myrtle had gone to bed already. The funny thing was, although not funny for Myrtle, Myrtle and Melody had a bit of a s"Ooops, word censored!" - I think they got confused in the dark - and left Myrtle stood in the doorway, blocking it.

Curious about the ladder, Lucie was the bravest and went up the ladder first only to be met by Myrtle. She made a very quick exit back down. This went on for a good few minutes with Lucie trying to get in. The others got to watch how the ladder needed to be done, and as soon as Lucie got in the others followed