The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Moleskins on September 09, 2012, 03:30:50 pm
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The one and only fault I have is lack of patience ! We got 5 hens 5 or 6 weeks ago and they are / were on point of lay. Don't know which point but they aint laid yet.
So being an impatient person, I'm tempted to get a couple more which are laying so that at least the trips back and forth to the henhouse will have some reward.
The question is this, if I do buy some layers can they just go in with the others or will there be a fight?
I'm sure there's enough room in the henhouse for them all as only one perch is in use quite often.
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There will certainly be 'handbags at 20 paces', while they sort out their pecking order. Best to introduce the new ones when it's already dark and they're roosting.
Mine are still moulting and I've just cleaned them out and found quite a bit of redmite in two of the houses - none of which contributes to laying well. I've waged war on the mites so I'll see if the egg count picks up - it has done a bit this last week anyway.
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We've always done it as jaykay says - pop them in at dusk and then they come out in the morning, ruffle a few feathers and hopefully get on with it! We've never had significant problems apart from the cockerel who was incredibly picked on, I isolated the bully for a few days in a broody hutch with run so she could still see and be seen by the others and the pecking order shifted.
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Moleskins,
I had my POL hens for about 5 weeks before they started to lay and then it was intermittent until they got into their stride. I would say be patient for just a while longer before you make a decision to buy in lay hens (unless you really want some more that is)
Sally
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As Bionic says ..... depending how long you have had them.
We always wire off part of the coop and run when introducing new birds. This way they can get used to each other with no chance of injury or bullying. Also no competition for food and water.
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And have some gentian violet spray ready - because you'll always need it if you don't happen to have any handy!
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Would that be for the battle scars?
I've got some septiclens with purple in it, I use that on the sheep as and when.
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Yes, any blood, say from a pecked comb, and they peck at it like mad, so purple or blue spray helps disguise it, as well making sure it doesn't get infected.