[stamford]

Agreed to make an extra addition to the brood increasing from 4 to 5, is this an easy process and will the older girls be forgiving ?   

[Vember]

Could be tricky introducing just one 
Why not get two Then they'll be able to stick together lol

Might be best to quarantine any new birds for a least a week ( i go with 2 wks) before proper intro's are made so that you can be sure your not fetching any nasties in to your existing flock

Sarah

[stamford]

Hi Sarah, appreciate what your saying and to be honest, its not really my idea  my wife stupidly said to a friend who she was giving eggs to, " Hey, why not buy a chicken for Christmas for your husband, then you have your own eggs "    Great idea if it was really for us, but not so sure now... We have the room for an extra one, but for 2 we'll prababely be pushing it, although we are planning to increase the caged run when the weather warms up.... Maybe we could add 2 to make it easier and we keep the extra one 

[Roughlee Handled]

I would make sure that there are plenty of feed and water stations (mpre than one each) and most important that there is no where that does not have an exit or escape i.e. dead end ally so to speak.

[theclampitts]

We had three ex-bats then added two POLs and it went fine.  Then we were given a lonely chook to look after as her mates had flown off.  I was concerned about adding just one but it has gone very well.  They have a large shed and free range in the garden, so there is plenty of space for every one.  I introduced her after the others had gone to roost and when I fed them I put food in different places.  The newbie ranged on her own for quite a while but they snuggled up at night.  She is gradually becoming part of the group.

[stamford]

Thanks all, I only have enough room on the roosting bar for 4... But the some nights, only 2 use it anyway. Think I'm going to get 2 to make sure they they bond OK... Oh Im not sure 

[Debbie D]

If it is at all possible to get two then I recommend you do as introducing one on its own can be difficult.  When we have introduced new birds we have kept them seperate for a week or two, somewhere where they can all see each other. We then let them free range together during the day for a while and then when they seem to be getting on okay put them in the same house. 

[stamford]

Well...... We could only get 1 newbie girl, a Dorking. After a bit of pecking and running around, they've settled in for the night and I presume the battle will resume again tomorrow. I;m going to leave the pop hole open tonight in case it needs to escape the pecking overnight. The original 4 are on the roosting bar and the newbie is in a nesting box.. Do you think they'll be OK till morning ? Should I close the pop hole or not ?

Cheers

Mark

[Vember]

I'd close it Mark
Just let them out asap tomorrow morning. Unless they have a light on in there I doubt they'll move before day break


Sarah

[stamford]

OK its shut, I'll best set an early alarm for the morning and open up before sunrise    Do you think they'll be OK tomorrow or will they keep pecking away at her ? 

[Vember]

It really depends on the birds 

Try and give them plenty to do scatter some mealworms about or throw a couple of cabbage in with them or sweetcorn on the cob, making sure there is enough to go round so they don't fight over it and keep your fingers crossed


Sarah

[stamford]

Cheers Sarah 

[stamford]

well they've survived the night in the box together, i've now seperated them for today and let the normal 4 out into the bigger penned area and left the newbie in the caged run... Later I'll let the 4 out to free range the garden and move the newbie out to the bigger area to get used to it

[Vember]

Sounds good Mark, glad all went well over night


Sarah

[stamford]

  She got jumped about an hour ago, one of the isa browns decided she didnt like the look of her and went for it.. Noticed some slight blood on the top of the newbies beak. Although shaken, she seems ok... Bedtime soon for them so lets see what happens