Three new chickens later….

My good friend "the Muminator" had asked me, on behalf of a friend, how to source chickens. Having described the various ways you can get hens, I found myself returning to the idea of getting some more myself. I've become really fond of my three beautiful Wyandotte bantams - they get every more beautiful the older the get. I have always fancied some more pure breeds…..and  my eglu total soon to be 4, it seems a shame to have too many eglus lying empty!

I started simply browsing my favourite breeds on the internet I was beginning to think about some Frizzles, then I ran across the PreLoved website. In it there was an ad from a lady who had hatched some eggs from a breeder and who had a range of lovely looking breeds (no Frizzles) and who wanted to sell them to start getting her garden in order with a view to moving house. She said that she was selling them for a low price because she wanted to ask questions to ensure they went to a good home since they were, after all, her pets. This sounded like just my sort of chickens. She was based in Basingstoke, which is quite a way from where I live, but guess what, I was visiting my friend "the Muminator" who lived closer than I do, so I could swing past Basingstoke on my way home.

After a lovely long chat and a coo over some gorgeous chickens, I settled upon a couple of bantam silkies. As I was leaving I said that I would stick with two as this would give me room to get another two bantams should I find some Frizzles which I had originally been looking for.

It must have been fate, because we were walking past a shed full of Frizzle's as I spoke. All bar one were already spoken for, and this poor little baby Frizzle was stood alone. When I picked her up, she was so cute and showed a bit of feather damage where she had been bullied. I figured that as all the rest were going elsewhere, wherever she was homed she would be on her own, so on a whim I took her as well.

Apparently, when introducing a new chicken to a group, if you do it at bedtime and wipe all the chickens over with a damp cloth soaked in a vinegar solution (I used apple vinegar which I have to hand as a drink supplement) then when they all wake up, they won't detect that one of them doesn't belong because they will all smell of vinegar. I tried this last night when I introduced them to their new eglu. Fortunately it was dark, so nobody was able to see the odd sight of me crouched down with a chicken on my knees, carefully wiping a damp, apple vinegar scented cloth in her armpits and all over.

This morning they all got up. I've named the white one Lulu - she is apparently the top chicken. The little Frizzle spend much of the day running around hiding - she is smaller than the others. The black one seemed to peck at her more than the white Silkie. I've found that it is often the 2nd in command who will do all the pecking. Nevertheless, very minor stuff. I feel fairly sure that within a couple of days they will be fine together.

Here are some photos of my current flock arrangement. I've moved Nutmeg, Maud and Amber back into the big walk-in-run with the red eglu and just a 1m attachment. It works better I think than the 2m tunnel attached to the WIR and I've used cable ties to ensure a good fit.

Here's a little gallery of my new run layout and hens :)

Below is Lulu at the front, a white bantam silkie, black silkie at the back and my little grey Frizzle bantam in the middle.

Below: Agatha, Vera and Buffy, the beautiful Wyandotte bantams

Maud, Nutmeg and Amber, my medium hybrids. Nutmeg still seems to have puffy cheeks, and I've added citricidal to her drinking water. She seems none the worse for it though, no sniffles or behaviour change so I'll just leave well alone.

Here is the red eglu, converted into a chicken eglu and attached to the WIR with a 1m tunnel. I needed several cable ties and a brick to raise the back up off the ground to ensure a good connection. But it works well.

Integration going well

I've worked from home since Tuesday this week. Today is the third day. After introducing them late Monday, I let the roam together all Tuesday. I occasionally spied on them from various windows to see what they were up to but there didn't seem any big conflicts.

Tuesday saw Nutmeg making quite aggressive approaches to the three ex-batts who scuttled away in a little group like elderly ladies. By Wednesday it was better. If the two little flocks came near each other, one might make a slight dash for the newbies who would run away, but nothing more serious than that.

Today is Thursday and no sign of aggression, except I did see one of the ex-batts appearing to peck at the front chest of another ex-batt, where the new feathers are coming through. The other ex-batt didn't seem to mind at all, so not sure what is going on there. Preening perhaps?

At one point, all six were in the walk in run (WIR). There was no conflict at all. It is quite funny, the ex-batts seem really keen on the layers pellets I feed the established hens, and Nutmeg, Amber and Patsy love to gobble up the ex-batt crumb. I think I shall stop buying that from now on as the ex-batts are clearly able to eat the normal organic layers food.

It is now pouring with rain and I looked out to see the most comical sight. Each set of chickens seems fascinated by the accomodation of the other set, with my original hens spending alot of time exploring the new green eglu and run. I now have the three ex-batts sheltering under the pink eglu in the WIR, and the three original hens sheltering under the cover in the ex-batt's run.

I shall introduce the green eglu to the WIR next week, probably on Monday so I can watch what happens Monday and Tuesday. I'm in the office on Wednesday so my overall aim is that all six chickens can be in the nice dry WIR when we're away from the house during the day.

The WIR is starting to look a little small now mind. I wonder if we should build another.

Getting to know each other

Arrived home from work today before dark, and so decided to let the chooks out for a quick run. As it was only about 1h to dusk, I let them all roam together and sneaked indoors to spy on them without my presence interfering with their behaviour.

They seemed OK. The older hens made a bee-line for the ex-batt crumb. The ex-batts seemed a little scared of them. I'd just topped it up and they wanted to eat it, but wouldn't risk it. They pottered around as a little threesome. Amber and Patsy ate their food and Nutmeg approached them in a determined way from time to time and they ran quickly away from her.

It looked like the three newbies knew their place. I suspect that the others will peck at them, but I think that having spent 4 weeks separated only by a fence has allowed them to become accustomed to each other. I hope this is the case as I'd like to be able to move the green eglu into the run in March as I'm going to be away alot and they won't be able to roam the orchard during the day as they are used to. I think they'd be better off roaming the walk-in run. I plan to hang feeding and drinking things and treats from the beams on the new roof, and make it all nice for them. Need to put in some perching bars, but one thing at a time ;)

4 weeks on - improving

We're approaching the 4 week mark. In Week 3 I allowed all the chickens out, separated by the mesh fence. Dave had apparently seen them fighting through the fence, but I spied on them from windows and saw nothing so I figured it was safe. Certainly they've shown no signs of damage or stress.

Went out one morning to find Nutmeg in with the newbies. They seemed to be getting on OK so I allowed all 6 to roam together while I stood and watched. However this was not a good idea. Amber and Patsy love the ex-batt crumb and the three newbies (now called Butterly, Margot and Flora) huddled down the eglu end, too nervous to try to get past Amber and Patsy.

So I moved the grub bowl to the outside of the eglu. This was fine for a bit, then the two newbies and Patsy and Amber started fighting big time, running toward each other like little rugby players. Quick action was required and I lifted Amber and Patsy out of the ex-batt enclosure, quickly pegged the entrance shut and they've remained separated ever since.

New quills are clearly present, but I'm going to wait until the ex-batts are well feathered, with no skin showing, before I allow the two mini-flocks to mix. I really want them to be good and strong to cope with the establishment of the pecking order.