The Poultry Keeper

pete.a · Joined: 24 Dec 2005 Posts: 5 Location: Chepstow

And the next question is !!!!!!!

As the arrival of the 2 Marans and the 2 Speckled had gone so smoothly, I decided to add to the collection by purchasing a couple of Buff Sussex as a wedding anniversary present for my dear wife.
Not quite what she was expecting I must admit but nevertheless certainly more than she has had in the past.
So on the 26th of October they arrived aged 13 weeks.
I made some temporary nighttime accommodation in my newly constructed greenhouse and they spent the daytime in the orchard, fenced off but visible to the main flock, qty 4.
They have now progressed and the fence between them came down on the 4 th of December but the 2 groups, qty 4 and qty 2, do not seem to mix to freely.
The Buffs, still being slightly smaller , now aged 23 weeks. Although my dear wife expected them to grow quicker having spent so much time in the greenhouse !!, seem to get chased when the treat of corn arrives.

And so. At what point do I get them to share the main sleeping quarters ?

Do I bite the bullet and put them in to get on with it or abandon any hope vine ripened tomatoes in the summer and leave them in the greenhouse forever.

I await your much appreciated advise

Pete

jaydee67 · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 12:43 pm Post subject:

If they are together during the day I would put them together at night time now. I would wait until the 4 are in and it's dark then add the other 2. As reagrads teh corn, if it's delivered in the hand, try 2 people doing it if poss, or scatter it on the ground in a few different places, that way there has to be somewhere for the new girls to go that someone else isn't in! Does that make sense?

Love your choice of anniversary presents btw!

debcat · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 1:14 pm Post subject:

agree with JD Very Happy

Go for it
mine have grown slower than I thought as well

Lisa · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 1:43 pm Post subject:

I'd happily put them in together now. At 23 weeks they should be big enough to hold their own if need be.

I'd also suggest temporarily putting out more than one place to eat and drink too - same logic, if they get chased away from one place, there's somewhere else to go to.

Whenever I've introduced new ones, they often seem to remain together in their original groupings a lot of the time, but after a while they'll happily come together in a big group when something really interesting is about (ie food Rolling Eyes

) Basically they just need time to work out their own pecking order on their own.

Good luck - and do let us know how they get on.

NannyP · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 2:43 pm Post subject:

Yes as above, and remember, they will more than likely continue to live, play and eat seperately as some of mine do. I have 3 different groups depending on their arrival times, but they all sleep together Very Happy

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

same as the last 2 messages ~ some girls joined the main flock, but others always remained in their own separate group. No fighting or anything between the groups, they all got on with each other just seemed to prefer the company of the girls they came with.

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

I agree - stick them together!!!
My two groups still sleep separately most of the time - but occasionally one or two will swap houses.
And there has been no probs at bedtime.

Good luck

Aussie Chick · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 5:13 pm Post subject:

Great present!! ( Will someone Pm Sam when its our anniversary please!!) Very Happy

Heather · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:46 pm Post subject:

you'll have to telll us when it is first !

Welcome home BTW!

Aussie Chick · Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:29 pm Post subject:

3rd June!

and thanks! Wink