Introducing new girls

[SuzyB]

The last two times Ive introduced new girls to the existing lot Ive kept them in separate houses, separate runs and gradually let them free range together. Even so, when they eventually all go in together, the newbies inevitably get ganged up on, arent allowed near the food/water etc and its tough going for them for a week or so.

Not so with the two I got on mothers day though! On Monday night I went to shut the houses and runs and discovered the shed where the new girls were living empty! Frantically looked around the garden, couldnt see them, only to find them tucked up with the others in the main house, gone in on their own accord. I said to Blossom who was by the pop hole 'ah you think you're clever now, just wait til the morning when they batter you and wont let you eat or drink'

Wrong again, they are all getting on like a house on fire, barely any bullying at all, Im amazed! Considering how viciously Peri went for both of them when free ranging and they got too close, I cant believe how well they've integrated when in the run and by their own choice too.

Also, Blossom laid her first egg on Monday, (she crept back to the shed to do hers) and its a pale brown one. Obviously not one of the 70% that does green then. Saying that, the one today was very very pale in comparison to her first so who knows what she'll do day to day. Clever girl

[tlck9]

Having introduced two sets of ex batts, my last lot were quit something, very up themselves and war broke out on several occassions with all the hens (9) joining into one huge scrap.

3 weeks on, I get the occasional scrap and one of the quieter ones occassionally sneaks into the main coop.

when the very bad weather hit us Tuesday I found all nine squashed up in the ark and run, fit only for 3/4 hens. No squabble but I suspect that was because no one wanted to get kicked into the rain