Chicken bald back

[jackian]

I have my 4 lovely girls and my oldest the lovely Clover is about 5 and still laying , bluebell the youngest who we have had a year is the other that is laying. The other two in the middle at the moment are free loaders.

I have been thinking about it for a while but kept changing my mind as my heart was ruling my head.

The reason I was dithering was because the 4 get on so well ( most of the time ) and I did not want to upset the apple cart but realise that there is never a right time .

Well finally my heart has won

I want to get them while the days are short as I find the introductions seem to go easier ( famous last words)

I am going with my friend on Monday to a farm a few miles away to hopefully get two new girls.

I am hoping to get another Bluebell and another ginger girl as I love both their characters , but of course things could change.

6 will be the most I have ever had so it's a bit of a challenge and as there are only two of us living in the house I will be over run hopefully with

I have not told the old girls yet , exciting times ahead once again .

 

Jackie x

[gavclojak]

Exciting times indeed, I had three and got another three, unfortunately merryweather died before intro's took place.

I took the intro of the remaining two ladies reality slowly. I kept them separate for the first two weeks with a net deciding them and then let them together for a few minutes the first time then increased the time together over a few weeks.

I have to say I have not have any pecking, fighting or inappropriately naughty behavior, guess I'm really lucky.

I have recently lost another girl to old age so an back to four girls.

 

Good luck and keep us all posted

[Bramble]

Oooh, how exciting!!! I'm toying with the idea of getting three newbies to introduce to my existing three girls - one is only about a year old, the other a couple of years old and the other is "gettin' on a bit!!!" I'm thinking introducing three to three will be easier and like you I think it's MUCH easier to handle intros when the days are shorter - far less time for squabbling.

 

I love bluebelles too - my two year old is a bluebelle and she's a really lovely colour.

 

Trouble is, I'm trying to decide whether to have new ones at all (I worry that they can be quite noisy, neighbours have never complained, but ... )

 

Let us know what you choose!!!!

[gavclojak]

I had the same worries branble, I had three very quiet girls and as above introduced a few new ex commercial girls, since October I have only heared them cluck twice! No fuss when laying or when the nest box is full of the free loaders who like to hang out in the nest box like its the local coffee shop but don't actually lay..well Betty does occasionally then eats it before I get a chance to retrieve the gift!!

[Bramble]

I had the same worries branble, I had three very quiet girls and as above introduced a few new ex commercial girls, since October I have only heared them cluck twice! No fuss when laying or when the nest box is full of the free loaders who like to hang out in the nest box like its the local coffee shop but don't actually lay..well Betty does occasionally then eats it before I get a chance to retrieve the gift!!

 

 

 

I found the ex-batts I started with were much more down to earth than hybrids I've bought at POL - some are REAL drama queens!!

[PixieDust]

Ooh exciting. Don't overlook a Columbine/Skyline though. Cannot love my Winnie enough lol

[gavclojak]

I had the same worries branble, I had three very quiet girls and as above introduced a few new ex commercial girls, since October I have only heared them cluck twice! No fuss when laying or when the nest box is full of the free loaders who like to hang out in the nest box like its the local coffee shop but don't actually lay..well Betty does occasionally then eats it before I get a chance to retrieve the gift!!

 

 

 

I found the ex-batts I started with were much more down to earth than hybrids I've bought at POL - some are REAL drama queens!!

 

Can't be doing with diva's....ex commercial girls for me!!

[jackian]

Gavlojak

 

I am tempted to get ex commercial but not sure where to get them in my area. After taking on my friends Chalkhill blue who had been bullied and featherless and seeing her become fully feathered it was very rewarding .she is now a stunning girl ( if she would start laying again)

 

As from my posts above I am supposed to be getting two new girls Monday but could be tempted.

[gavclojak]

They are a little addictive, if you look at my post of last week flora and fauna before and after you will see why I'm hooked.

If you are interested check the BHWT rehoming page and see if there is a rehoming anytime soon. I rehome with BHWT so have seen where these hard working girls come from so for me I wouldn't consider anything else but that's just my choice and I fully respect others that like posh girls.....no judgement here!

[Luvachicken]

How eggciting

I also got my new ones so that I could do the introductions over the shorter days and like you was worried about upsetting the current pecking order.

I haven't fully integrated them yet.

 

I hope you see what you want on Monday or maybe even rescue some ex batts.

And don't forget any pics

[Chortle Chook]

You've just got to get through the weekend and then you'll have them. I love the bluebells too