craftyhunnypie Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Well the time has come for my newbies to move into the cube with the big Omlet girls. I wanted to do it earlier, but decided to wait unitl they were all laying and 'mature' enough to stand up for themselves. They have been eyeballing each other for about a month now from their runs, so they know that other chooks exist in our garden. But tomorrow is the big day! I'm not expecting big trouble - maybe a bit of alarm bawk bawking and a quick peck from Bounty (the Magpie chook), but I'm not holding my breath. We have decided to let the big girls go to bed as normal in the cube - they all pile in the nest. We will then shut the door & put the newbies in the run, then open the cube door again. It's up to them waht they all do then. At least at that time they will all be a bit dopey. I just hope the new girls manage to go up the ladder to bed. I'm going to give Smartie (my white leghorn) a bit of a cleanse as her back is filthy where she has been dustbathing - before she moves in the cube. I have organised 2 feeding stations (thanks to Snowy), so there shouldn't be any food fights. I'm just a bit nervous. But it has to be done, as my cube is practically empty with just 3 chooks in it & when my mk2 eglu is empty & they all get along fine in the cube....I can get my bantams! Wish me luck & think of me at 4 - 4.30pm ish tomorrow! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovemychooks Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Oooh, good luck, let us know how it goes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Good luck with the move - I'm sure it will be fine. My bantams have recently been introduced to the big girls, and apart from the odd skirmish there hasn't been too much trouble! The bantams can get out of the way very quickly,fortunately for them! Have you decided on your bantams yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 6, 2007 Author Share Posted November 6, 2007 thanks everyone! I have just tucked the little ones up in their mk2 eglu & said make the most of it girlies - tomorrow you've got to fight for your bed space! Big girls are still mooching round eating. Bantams - yes we think we would like a couple of pekins, 2 Seabrights & a buff orpington bantam. But it could all change of course, depending on what I can get this time of the year. So far, it is looking like we may have to go The Wernlas Collection as most breeders haven't got stock until March next year. I do still have a couple of local places to try & will also give Craeg Mhor a ring (where I got my newbies from), to see if he can get hold of bantams / knows of a good place. As I've been thrilled with the quality & friendliness of his birds. I'm very excited! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 I love your choice of bantams! Can I suggest a silkie bantam? They are very fluffy and ever so cute! (as you can see in my username pic of puffball) Good luck with the move! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 6, 2007 Author Share Posted November 6, 2007 I did think about silkies, but I'd worry about lice with all their fluff. Also, aren't they prone to Mareks? So I'd be a bit wary of putting them together with other bantams. I think they adorable, but i'm just a bit wary. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Whats Mareks??????? Our little hen has only had mites once but all our other hens were infected just the same as her..? Is that what you meant? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Read about Marek's Disease ...HERE... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 I hope the move in together goes well karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 thanks for the link xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 7, 2007 Author Share Posted November 7, 2007 Hi everyone! Well we didn't get back from B&Q until 6.45pm. Big girls in bed in nest of cube, so we shut the door on them. We gave them 15 mins to settle. Then hubby had a Stella for Dutch courage & crawled in the eglu run to grab the flappy one (Rolo) - transferred her to the cube & she started eating straight away. No probs. Next was big girl Bounty who was scared but inquisitive about being grabbed. Wow , no pecking - soppy chook. She went in with her mate in the cube. Finally Smartie - like a little dove, absolutely terrified, but ok when we caught her. Rolo & Bounty ate & Smartie went on the ladder. Not a sound from the big girls tucked up in their nest!!!! Left them to it for a bit, then opened the cube door. None of the big girls moved from the nest & not a sound! Awwww Rolo & Bounty strutted their stuff at the front of the run, Smartie busy drinking & looking for a bed! First up the ladder was big girl Bounty, went in the cube & dissapeared to the back, shortly followed by Smartie who sat in the doorway looking down at Rolo & encouraging her. Still no sound from big girls. Rolo kept flying onto the front of the run, but couldn't figure out the ladder. About 10 minutes later, Smartie shifted her bum & Rolo flew up & in! Gave it 10 minutes & shut the cube door. Some gently cooing & big girls shuffling up as if to make more room in the nest!!! No sounds, no pecking, no nothing. We have just been out to listen & it is total silence!!!! Awwwwwwwww Just hope they are all ok in the morning! I have got 2 grubs, so they can go to either ( minimise fighting). I will get up earlier incase of any early morning fighting! I wonder who will be first down the ladder??? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Well done they sound like perfectly well behaved little ladies karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 8, 2007 Author Share Posted November 8, 2007 This morning - got up early & there was some gentle cooing. Let them all out - they haven't quite mastered the ladder very good & came down it like firemen. Straight to the food. The 3 oldies went to the back of the run, 3 newbies at the front. Rolo kept socialising with older chooks, no probs. Audrey went in the nest to lay an egg, Rolo went up & down ladder to nosey. Bounty is being a bit bossy, flapping at Rita - but Bounty is the biggest chook of them all & has sort of met her match with Rita, who she keeps flapping at - but no real aggression. We have come inside now & left them to it - all quiet & all doing their own thing. Not bad so far. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Good news!! Gald they seem to be getting on well together. I will have this to deal with soon. Can't wait to get the new girls but the intros should be fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Good luck! I'll be doing the same this time next week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 8, 2007 Author Share Posted November 8, 2007 Well, big girl Bounty (the magpie chook - newbie) has been bossing the older Omlet chooks a bit today - giving them a gentle peck & shove out of the way - not much to worry about. The older girls decided to hide in the cube a bit, with them occassionally sneaking down the ladder for pecks of pellets from the grubs! We went out & when we came back they were all socialising in the run. Bit of pecking still taking place. Checked for eggs & Rolo had left us a lovely one! We knew it was her as all the straw was piled up in one corner showing bare plastic....she lays on bare plastic!!! Anyway, bed time, the older girls went in the cube, with Audrey stood at the doorway noseying at the new chooks as if to say ' What's the password then?' First in was Smartie, then Bounty, then Rolo. We shut the door then peeped in through the eggport. Big girl Bounty, who has been bossing & pecking all day was cuddled up in the middle of the older girls in the nest box! Unbelievable - the cheeky madam!!!! Funny things aren't they?! But I can say, that they are getting on rather good! I think I did right keeping them seperate for so long, until they were all laying! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Glad it's going ok Emma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 .... they haven't quite mastered the ladder very good & came down it like firemen. That made me chuckle!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
