Omlet cube and run

[torgrosset]

I've just bought a couple of new POL pullets to add to 4 my ex-bats. The newbies are a bluebell called Elsie and a black rock called Maggie (although my daughter wanted to call her Fanny - don't ask!!!). They are about 16 weeks old and seem to be settleing in well. I must admit I was a bit nervous about is because I've heard that ex-bats can be really nasty towards newcomers. Today is the first day they're all in together and because it's half term I'm able to go and check on the every 15 mins or so, but apart from a few mini scuffles and the expected new pecking order being established everything seems to be going really well. Tonight will be the first time they're all in the coop together, so that'll be interesting!?!?! The only hen making a fuss is my top hen Lulu who is refusing to come out of the coop and is making an awful lot of noise when she's moved, or the other hens try to go an lay an egg. I'm hoping she'll soon settle - at least she's not on the attack, which is what I was expecting from her.

 

Maggie the black rock. I must admit I prefer black rocks that are really black with a green sheen, but Maggie is quite pretty and has lacing to some of her feathers.

 

Elsie the bluebelle.

[Goldie]

Congrats on the new girls! I'm into my hybrids as well, so loving the breed choices The Black rock has a lot more lacing than ours but it looks good.

Glad your existing girls are being kind to them, I've just introduced 2 POLs to my existing two this weekend and like you say, we thought the school holidays are a good time to keep an eye on them.

Enjoy them and fingers crossed for some eggs in the next few weeks!

 

P.s. I see you have them on gravel...is it high maintenance and do they get on with it alright??

[torgrosset]

We've only just introduced the pea gravel and it has been a great success. Hubby and I were sick of the mud this winter, it was terrible, so we debated as to what to do. We have thougth about putting a roof on the top, but it was going to cost a fortune and something we simply couldn't afford at this moment in time. We then thought about wood chip (with weed control sheet and plastic turf protector underneath to stop it from mulching into the mud) and also slabs but inside the run is the stump of an old tree and the hens love the perch on it, so it'd be a pain the slab around and the actual floor is really uneven due to the roots etc, plus I also didn't really want slabs because they love the scrat about. Anyway we managed to get some pea gravel very cheaply, so put it down in desperation to get rid of the mud and it has worked very well. I pick up the majority of the droppings every day and give it a quick rake over and that's it done. I think becausae we're still "open air" any rain washes most of the debris through. Plus we've added a dustbath under the table which the coop sits on, which has also gone down really well and they seem to enjoy scratching about in the gravel, espeically when they get a treat! I'm not sure whether pea gravel is the best option, but the hens seem much happier than in mud.

[mollyripkim]

They are lovely girls, really pretty.

[torgrosset]

First night in the coop together went really well! Thank goodness!!! I had to physically pick up and put the new girls in the coop, but apart from that all's good!

[Bramble]

I'm doing intros at the moment too - two newbies (one of which is also a bluebelle ) to three existing - the big girls aren't being very nice to the newbies (not sure if the newbies are more prone to allowing themselves to be bullied because they haven't started laying yet?) but they are having some time free ranging together whilst Im working at home, the big girls are out in the garden but the newbies are reluctant to leave their run - hopefully they'll get a bit bolder though. Very stressful watching the newbies being chased by the big girls, but I'm trying to supervise but at the same time let them get on with it, as they've got to sort it out