cheekymonkey68 Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Good Morning! Just a quicky, I picked up 4 BHWT girls on Saturday and have them in a Go and run next to my WIR with 3 original girls in, I've let them out to free range separately at the moment, how long should it be before I let them free range together. They have had a few face offs between the runs, but nothing huge... Why is it number 2 or 3 chicken that has the face offs not no1 chicken ?? Any advice would be welcome :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Two weeks Leeweedon is how long I leave them alongside. Then introduce at night. We spray all the birds with a weak lavender oil solution so they all smell the same in the coop, but that's perhaps OTT. Fighting is almost always between the lower ranks, for some reason yet to be clear to me. We introduced two small Vanilla Wyandottes to 4 Orpingtons in a free ranging area (they had separate coops and runs) and the number 2's fought first. The number 2 Orpington won and tackled the number 1 Wyandotte and lost. So the the massive and previously undefeated number 1 Orpington stepped in. The number 1 Wyandotte ducked her peck, leaped into the air, stuck her claws into her chest and pecked her sharply on the head. The Orpington was clearly stunned for a few seconds then beat a hasty retreat with her others. Amazing to watch and they never crossed paths again. Chicken behaviour is very complex without doubt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Good Morning! Just a quicky, I picked up 4 BHWT girls on Saturday ) Oooo what re-homing did you go to, I was doing a rehoming with BHWT on Saturday at foal farm, we rehomed nearly 300 lucky girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 We introduced our 3 newbies to out 2 oldies after a week of being in seperate runs but being able to see each other. We did daily supervised free ranging and then put them together at night time after a week Good luck xx Ex bats are ace xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 There is some advice here, in the FAQ section about managing introductions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekymonkey68 Posted March 10, 2014 Author Share Posted March 10, 2014 Yep Im going to take my time introducing them as the bhwt girls are not in a good way on the feather front. TBH you cant see they are ginger chickens they are all down to their white downy feathers and very pale combs, although they do seem to be getting rosier by the day!! 3 eggs yesterday and 4 today so how they are laying I just dont know!! I rehomed them from Waterbridge Farm collection point in Cranliegh. Im just hoping by the end of the year they'll be all transformed into the girls they were supposed to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Yes I assume they all came from the same farm, we had a few that were fairly feathered but most were very naked, and bless them they still laid for you. A little thank you perhaps Well done for giving the girls a chance to be the princess they deserve to be x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Your chucks will be feathered up in no time - I was so surprised how quickly ours feathered and put on weight - probably only took 3 months max....they are feistier than other hybrids and have loads more character. Would always have exbats from now on in xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
