[Ygerna]

I am so excited I am going to burst

Today I bought a second hand Eglu with a sitting tennant Maran hen. She is lovely. However, she is alone because a fox killed her two companions this week :evil:

Now, I dont want her to be alone, she needs friends but when would I be best to get them, ASAP or wait a week or two? I really dont want to traumatise her anymore than necessary. A Fox attack, then a car journey in a box (only 2 miles but all the same...) and tomorrow she is going to be in a completely different garden.

What should I do for the best please?

[Kate and her Ducks]

Don't know about chickens but that they really like/need company. Don't know if it wouldn't be better to get all the trauma over as quickly as possible in one go. Might also be easier for them all to sort out the pecking order if they all start on new turf at the same time but don't quote me on that.

and   CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[Jellyhead]

yes congratulations. Personally I would think about putting friends in with her straight away. New garden, new friends. Put the newby in at night tho. It may not work, but then again it might, I have never (touches wood) yet had a problem introducing but my lot are/were very laid back. Sometimes I have put them in separate runs but next to each other but to be honest when I didnt have so many I just used to put them in the coop at night. I dont know if being in a more confined space would make a difference. Good luck anyway

[Kate and her Ducks]

And where are the pictures

[Ygerna]

And where are the pictures

LOL, it was actually pretty dark by the time I got back and put the Eglu together again. Even the children only got to wave from the window at her before I tucked her up for the night.

Photos aplenty tomorrow

[Jellyhead]

yes Kate, I forgot........ Jellyhead   piccies...its the law

[GrannieAnnie]

I agree Ygerna, get her a friend or 2 as soon as possible.  It could be more traumatic for her to get used to her new surroundings, THEN put some strangers in with her.  Get it all done as near together as possible.
And congratulations!!!!!!

[mickwood]

Get them sooner rather than later I say!  

I'd put them in at night as they just get together, get their head down and seem to get on better that way (I've just done it to my girls and it seemed to work ok - bit of pecking but that soon settled after a few days)

Also, try and have more than one food station to start with as I've found most fights centre around food so if there's more than one when they are all getting used to everything then it cuts down on the 'reasons' to fight.

CONGRATULATIONS and good luck XXX

[Kate and her Ducks]

It's light now.

[Ygerna]

It's light now.

It is!

I was up with the sun putting her run together. Shes made it through the night. She came out of her Eglu about 4 steps looked around, turned and went back in again :roll:  I guess it will take a while for her to get over the trauma.

I am off to Southmead Poultry this afternoon to get her a friend or two (or three ).

Wish me luck.

Photos will appear as soon as I have something worth posting

[Kate and her Ducks]

We won't wait for ever you know! :shock:

[Vember]

I've popped the photo's over in Chicken Chat


LINK


Sarah