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monica
Joined: 26 Jul 2008
Posts: 59
Location: aldershot
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 Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:30 pm Post subject: moving new chooks in |
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not sure where this should be posted but...
i already have 4 chickens and introduced 2 more the other evening onto the perch. there was a bit of pushing, etc and the new ones ended up sleepng in the nesting box. the next 2 days have seen the older one's pecking at the new one's, who keep cowering in the corner with their heads down. no blood shed yet though.
i know they have to sort it out but how long does it take? (i opened the run so the oldies went off and let the newbies eat and drink for the afternoon - is that a mistake?)  |
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Diane
Joined: 05 Feb 2006
Posts: 276
Location: Dorset
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| Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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It will probably take a couple of weeks or so. Are the newbies younger? As long as there is no blood shed then the best thing to do is to let them get on with in. Give them several bowls of food, at opposite ends of the run, if that helps the newbies.
It's usual to put the newbies in a separate run, but within site of the established flock, for a couple of weeks before introducing them. Doesn't always go smoothly though.
Letting the oldies out is good - gives everyone a break from warfare  |
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monica
Joined: 26 Jul 2008
Posts: 59
Location: aldershot
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| Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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| thank you - A FEW WEEKS?!! oh my god, that's ages, poor things. by the way, is that a picture of your cat? it's similar to ours, he's lovely and sleeps in the nesting box. |
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Diane
Joined: 05 Feb 2006
Posts: 276
Location: Dorset
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| Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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I know - it seems like a lifetime when you watch the poor newbies getting hand-bagged every day - but the intensity does diminish - it will just be the odd peck and beady-eyed look from the older hens in a few days, hopefully.
Yes, it's my cat, and the little duck was found drowned when a day-old and given the kiss of life, revived, and grew up with the hens. |
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monica
Joined: 26 Jul 2008
Posts: 59
Location: aldershot
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| Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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| my 14 year old son says 'that's awesome' about the duck |
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Diane
Joined: 05 Feb 2006
Posts: 276
Location: Dorset
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| Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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This is the little duckling with his special light sussex friend - they are both 8 -9 weeks old - but the ducklings grow 10 times faster than the little chicks - but they didn't seem to notice the difference. They were the same size to start with.
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monica
Joined: 26 Jul 2008
Posts: 59
Location: aldershot
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| Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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| aaahhhh |
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MamaPacker
Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 322
Location: Essex UK - Sarfend
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| Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Oh I love ducks!! What a lovely story.... |
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