4 new chucks...added to my flock

[tlck9]

crumbs what have I done????

I went to collect my 3 ex battery chucks from the Cornwall rescue. They had collected more, so there were spares, I could only take an extra one, so I've rehomed 4!

Boy are they more assertive than my last 3 ex batts. I've had lots of puffing up and tall chucks eyeing each other up. they looked more like cockerills than hens

I've homed them in the ark with run, and aim to move them into the main coop once they have had their worming complete.

I've had them in the big run this afternoon while my others were in the main allotment, they are so active compared with some I see on the BHWT photos

Now the fun begins

[frias]

Thought you would come back with more. Well done.

[Glutton4...]

Yay - well done you!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Ah, bless! You could always go back and get some more. Sound good. Looking forward to seeing your photos and hearing how they all get on.

[BUFFS]

well done you,thats 4 more birds now starting a new happier life = 4 chuffed chooks....

[tlck9]

yes they have a good life now, although I reckon my existing 5 have turned into cockerills over night and the ex batts are too....

I have never seen such displays of agression from my 5, even cluckcluck is out and out agressive towards them and she was the one I had hoped they would befriend.

I reckon I'm in for some trouble

[tlck9]

Here are 3 of the 4, the other one is camera shy!!

[BUFFS]

i put two bluebelles in with my original four last year and there was chaos for nearly a month,this year i put in two rhoderocks and all the moaning was over in less than a morning,dont ask me why,but the home birds just seem to accept the newbies,mind you they do a bit of creeping to the boss bird,so they are not as daft as they make out....

[tlck9]

i put two bluebelles in with my original four last year and there was chaos for nearly a month,

when I put the 3 in before, two were heavily picked on, but this was nipping here and there.

This time, its war, they are puffing up and standing tall, and launching at their combs. one had blood drawn yesterday so I had to step in.

The other agrresive one, is being sat on by to of them and pecked at

Quite different to the agressive - submissive ones last time

Am i right just to let them get on with it?

[BUFFS]

when I put the 3 in before, two were heavily picked on, but this was nipping here and there.

This time, its war, they are puffing up and standing tall, and launching at their combs. one had blood drawn yesterday so I had to step in.

The other agrresive one, is being sat on by to of them and pecked at

Quite different to the agressive - submissive ones last time

Am i right just to let them get on with it?

when we had that problem an elderly gent told me to squirt some vinegar at the agressor(in one of those hand pump bottles that some cleaners come in) and i caught her bullying a few times but after a few days she just stopped taking any notice of them,but watched me very closely for several weeks afterwards..

[Nicos]

Well done for only collecting one more- bet that was hard to do???

Just think of introducing the new gals as 'environmental enrichment' for the original gals!!!....they'll all be on their toes for a few weeks- no chance to be bored eh????

[tlck9]

Well done for only collecting one more- bet that was hard to do???

yes just taking the one extra, had i got the room, I would have had more

But realistically I want them to have a nice run and not over crowded, so it was just the 4. The ones I see coming from the Cornwall area, seem so much better feathered and seem fit in comparism to others on the BHWT website

[frias]

yes just taking the one extra, had i got the room, I would have had more

But realistically I want them to have a nice run and not over crowded, so it was just the 4. The ones I see coming from the Cornwall area, seem so much better feathered and seem fit in comparism to others on the BHWT website

They do look quite fit and healthy. My first lot were bald and combs hung sideways like berets. My second lot were amost full feathered. I think it depends on what 'farm' they come from. Hope they settle soon. You'd never know mine were from 2 different rescues now.

[tlck9]

They do look quite fit and healthy. My first lot were bald and combs hung sideways like berets. My second lot were amost full feathered. I think it depends on what 'farm' they come from. Hope they settle soon. You'd never know mine were from 2 different rescues now.

Cluckcluck from my first rescue still doesnt have a full chest of feathers, and she came to me in December!

I mentioned my strangely aggressive new arrivals to my friends and we have now named them

Maggie (thatcher)
Roxy (cant remember who we shortened this from, some historic power women
(boo) Boadicea
Scappy (although this is under review) and could be renamed:
Eleanor (of Aquitaine (The Eagle)

Flower names just dont seem to suit this little pack of little war women!

[Hilary B]

How about Penthesilia (queen of the Amazon warriors I believe)?