Coundown (4 days to go) before 3 new girlies

[tlck9]

I am quite excited now, I went over and chose my 3 Ex- Batts today and will collect them on Monday. Cant wait

The OH has named them K, F & C (how original), although on the quiet they have been named Holly, Tinsel and Mary as they are Christmas birds

(but not just for Christmas!!!)

I'm wondering with the cold weather if I should introduce them into the coop at night and have them in a seperate run of a day? so they can get used to each other before being out in full time

(Also the run hasnt been extended yet and I dont think the existing run would allow them to hide if things got a bit intense

Whats the opinion on this

I have an ark and small run for them at the moment, just thinking they may be better sharing at night?

[Eco-Chic]

I thought the advice was to bang 'em all up at night together and let them discover themselves as a whole new flock in daylight.

Don't forget the batts shouldn't be allowed to over-exert themselves for a couple of weeks as their leg muscles will be weak.

Will we see photos?

[pdblake]

Putting them in with the others would depend on their condition IMO as they will get bullied by the current birds. I found that our two new comers even copped it in the coop, though they weren't ex-batts, and were big enough to take it.

Not sure the cold will bother them too much, as much as the wet and the wind. A few of ours are still molting and have some pretty bad bald patches. Doesn't stop them playing around in the freezing cold and trying to dust bath in the ice

[tlck9]

Will we see photos?

yes indeed will post them as soon as I can sort of before & after!!!

[matthew2riches]

Chook tux on order???

:-)

[tlck9]

well, kay, F & C are all installed in the ark and I'm hoping they dont freeze. A sturdy horse blanket over the top to keep them a little more snug and some straw in the coop...so fingers crossed

They are quite nervous little things, and wouldnt go into the coop without a bit of help, but since they've been out about a week they are doing really well

Day one of there new life, tomorrow the extension to the run is being built and they will be introduced to the others very shortly and tomorrow will get some photos

[its hilly]

Well dont get frozen yourself sitting watching
Happy new chooks

[tlck9]

Two eggs in two days from my little ex batts!!!

The new run has been done and its fantastic, my OH has done a fantastic job - nearly 10 metres by 3 metres.

Now I have to do the hard thing, could someone give me some opinions

I have let them out together today and apart from a bit of chasing around, it went okay, when would you introduce them into the coop of a nightime?

or would you lock them away seperately for the time being?

[RedThorn]

sorry taken me so long but Gratz to you on the girls and congratulations to your girls for the eggs!

[Suechooks]

I usually let mine free range together for at least a week before mixing them in restricted space. Whatever you do there will be some squabbling but my new ex-batts have settled with the young Warrens with surprisingly little problem.
Good luck whatever you decide!

[tlck9]

Here are the new Girls

As promised here are my three new editions to the Adams Family!!!

[frias]

Aaaahhhh bless.

[Suechooks]

Lucky lucky girls!

[Bramble-Poultry]

if you are really worried about the cold with the chooks having plucked fronts, make up some chook jumpers. you can either knit them or if time is of the essence, make some up using old fleece blankets.

jennie has a pattern somewhere for both, just message us if you need it.

[tlck9]

they arent feeling so lucky at the moment, trying to introduce them to my other 4 is proving difficult.

Using the ark in the run isnt a good idea, as they try and stick to it like glue and then get cornered, or blocked from it

If one of my 4 start the others follow, but if they are calm they do not bother until one has a go and then they all pick