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

[Coolz]

Hi guys,

 

Been a while since I posted but am hoping some other chuck owners could give some advice?

 

I've 3 Rhode Rocks - The Girls: Nuggets (the boss), Pan (2nd) and Lois (bottom!). 3 weeks ago I got 2 Welsummer POL - Nettle (the boss of the 2) and Lily. They passed quarantine and I'm now introducing them to The Girls. I had put the quarantine house and run where the girls would free range so they could see the newbs and get used to them, then when I was satisfied they didn't have diseases or pests I moved the house and run to where The Girls house and large run is so they got to see each other daily. I have started to introduce them to free range time and have been watching Nuggets assert her position.

 

I'm monitoring free range time to make sure there's no outstanding fights but I wondered how long it is until they start to settle down? The Girls keep glaring at them (which is fine) but then start chasing them around a bit in between foraging. Nettle at one point would have a stand off with Nuggets when they were separated by a run but now Nettle runs for her life (she was obviously bluffing! ). I'm trying not to watch them with human sympathy as I know chickens don't work like that, but it is hard to see the 2 newbs getting told who's in charge constantly!

 

Someone had said about putting the new girls in the house when it's dark and everyone's tired, but I'm worried if I do that without the space for them to escape they'll get pecked to oblivion. The house is big enough for 6 birds so 5 would be comfortable in there but I also don't want to put them in the same house and run until I know they've fully established their new pecking order. Has anyone tried the night time house idea and how good of an idea is it? Guess I'm just wondering how long it'll take to settle down before I can try to stop worrying so much. Any advice or new ideas would be gladly welcome.

 

(Edited - spelling police!)

[sjp]

I find it takes about 4-6 weeks http://after they newbies have been added to the flock before they become one flock and they have their own place in the pecking order

adding the new ones after dark works for most keepers it's easier to round up the birds that are been moved for both the keeper and the birds as there's no chancing around the pen coop or garden most of the time I've had a couple that got away from me but that was part down to me doing the move to early after dark

there shouldn't be to much 'fighting' over night as it's dark you might get a bit in the morning but I find that for the first couple of weeks the newbies keep out of the way it's when the newbies start to get brave or over confident that you get the odd bit of fighting but as long as no blood is drawn leave them to it

I'm just wondering how long it'll take to settle down before I can try to stop worrying so much about your 3rd or 4th set of intros

I've got 2 separate groups that up to a couple of months ago all free ranged together all have grown up with each other ( I free range broodies a chicks from about 3 days old with the mob) a few have lived together before been moved from one group to the other by myself or their own choice but they don't really mix when FR unless one or two of the girls want to spend time with the other cockerel

[Coolz]

I might try the house trick then after a few more FR introductions. They do mostly stick in their trio and duo but given it was their 2nd FR venture together today, I didn't expect much else.

 

They've warmed to me a lot, especially Nettle.. She's like another Nuggets in terms of character. They've both learnt I hold the treats so have been following me without needing to rattle the tin to entice them. Nettle is just starting to learn to brace whereas Lily is a lot like Lois where if she can put off being picked up - she will! But because they're new I'm paranoid about mites and pests so have been regularly checking them. Though she has learnt to stay still when I'm holding her so she's learnt it's never a bad thing being held.. whereas before she was very fidgety and flighty.