cloud Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 Long story short: Our big Welsummer is in the wrong run and coop. Goose is in the Eglu with Thing 1 and Thing 2, the two young cream legbars. They've all seem to be snuggled down okay, so I've left them till the morning. I'm inclined to leave her in this run tomorrow when I go to work, but she was chasing the young ones at the weekend - the weekend was the first time we let them free range together. I'll get them up early before anything kicks off, but is it fair to keep them together when I can't monitor them? Or should I yank her out and put her back with the other hens before I open the pop hole? Long story I need OH's permission to tell, but it ended with chasing Goose around the garden at 7pm with no light except a hand torch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimnpaula Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 If you are worried about not being able to supervise her tomorrow, then I'd move her to her normal run in the morning. They should be ok overnight as they're asleep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeshen Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 I agree with jimnpaula. No point worrying about them all day. They'll no doubt get on better before long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud Posted November 7, 2014 Author Share Posted November 7, 2014 Not too much kerfuffle this morning in the coop, but when I let them out into the run it was clear that Goose was going to spend her day chasing the young ones. Fortunately she went back in the Eglu so I could close the door and drag her out the side door. She's all wings and legs until you get a firm hold, then she's quite docile in your arms (not like Coco who struggles at all times). Goose is now back in with the other girl - where she's the lowest in the pecking order. I'm happier now even if she isn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 she will chase the youngsters for a while any way as the lowest ranking girls as she has the most to loose that's part of the politics of a flock I've got a couple of 6 month old pullets that have been in with my main group about 6 weeks and the CLB is getting chased by the 3 or 4 lower ranking hens quite a bit but they only really go a couple of steps but she runs a mile her light Sussex 'sister' on the other hand is flavour of the month with Fred the cockerel so she is more or less left a lone but she's a bit thick so she runs away if another of the mob gets near her weather they are going to shove her out of the way or not trouble is with that group most of the lower ranking girls have more or less finished moulting so there's a bit of a power struggle going on at the moment Fred's a wimp were the girls are concerned so just lets them get on with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud Posted November 7, 2014 Author Share Posted November 7, 2014 I thought as much. The plan for the next week or so is to let them all free range together where there is space for them to get out the way. Pecking order is Coco --> Siouxsie --> Mimi --> Goose --> CBLs I don't expect that to change any time soon, but before we try to get them all in to the big coop together I'd like the CBLs to be a little big bigger and the other to be a little more used to them being part of the flock. Long term goal is to get them all in the big coop - I think they all benefit from the extra warmth of being together at night, especially if we have a cold winter. I'd also love to workout how we get Goose to go in to the big run - Coco get to be a right madam and chases Goose away at any attempt at meal worm bribery. Only Siouxsie can stand up to Coco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
