Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[suse71]

Hiya! I am hoping someone can give me some feedback on their experiences...

I have 'inherited' 4 hens recently when their owner passed away suddenly and already had 3 of my own. I moved their existing house into the netted area where mine FR. Over the last 2 weeks I have been letting them out alternative days and finally am three days into them sharing the space.

 

Well more like swapping each other's cages and toys during the daytime!

At bedtime they all trot back to their respective coops and whilst I would love to put them all in together in a it isn't financially an option.

 

So, long winded, sorry, but they hang out in their 4 and 3 and I was wondering if they will ever merge these groups or whether only sleeping together will break that? I have no idea what their pecking order is, but whilst it's calm out there I am thankful for that at least! I hadn't exactly planned on the extra 4 but now I have them and was wondering if anyone else has merged 2 flocks?

Next task now they are settled and feathers grown back is naming them as they didn't exactly arrive with names! Then maybe eggs would be nice!

Sorry for long post!

[sjp]

I've got 2 mobs hens and 1 cockerel each that have their own coops and runs but free range together but they've basically split the garden up into 3 each has their own part plus no mans land which as long as no one upsets anyone gets used by anyone at anytime any broodies chicks and growers get to use any part of the garden they want young cockerels included as long as they behave i.e. don't get court trying it on with the boss's favorite girls or get on the wrong side of the CLB because she will and does give them a kicking

I've had one or 2 that have moved 'house' of their own choice and a couple that won't put up with been moved and go back to they're own house at the first opportunity

If you want just one mob then you'll more that likely have to make the move happen just take your time let them all free range together first it gives them more room to get away from each other

as for pecking order with mine I more or less know who's bottom and the main mid ranking girls plus the ones that think they are top of the tree plus the ones that are the boys main girls

and I also know that the 20+week old pullet from last year will be a top hens if she gets her way she's all ready at least 2 up from the bottom

[suse71]

That's funny sjp! As I was reading your post I had one eye on the gardens goings on and one of the new ones decided she was going to sleep in the Eglu instead of her wooden coop. The other old three tried to squeeze in with her and after some shuffling the new one hopped out and did a long walk of shame down the cage to her own coop!

 

Made my day!

[jimnpaula]

All my ladies share a run but the ex-colony cage girls have reclaimed 'their' eglu now that the big babies have moved out - they just prefer their own company at nights!

Last year before the big babies arrived I was tired of cleaning 2 houses so I closed off the eglu and only left the cube open, but would the ginger ninja's go to bed in there? Nope, "we want to sleep on the branch in the run even if it's cold."

 

When the youngsters arrived they were installed in the eglu end of the run with the divider in place and stayed there for several months, then I switched the gingers and babies over so the posh top birds could accept the babies. Once the babies were 'acceptable' I took down the divider and hoped that the top bird would keep everyone in check, and she did.

 

Now everyone has a choice on which house they want to use and it's definitely gingers= posh birds=