The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: lindyloo on March 01, 2008, 04:23:41 am

Title: hello
Post by: lindyloo on March 01, 2008, 04:23:41 am

Hello - just joined the forum. I live in Nottinghamshire.  I have 10 hens - Rhode Islands/sussex - buff orpingtons - Brahmas - Cochin .  Just about to take on 4  week-old chicks (hatched in a local childrens nursery) - so any advice on housing and how soon can I introduce them to the other ladies?

Title: Re: hello
Post by: Blinkers on March 01, 2008, 06:40:08 am

Welcome Lindyloo.......aaw..week old chicks, how gorgeous. :)

Title: Re: hello
Post by: Hilarysmum on March 01, 2008, 09:01:56 am

Hi and welcome, I am the proud owner of 1 Brahma and assorted other hens too.

Title: Re: hello
Post by: Rosemary on March 01, 2008, 05:04:11 pm

Hi, Lindyloo

Welcome to the TAS forums.

When we introduce new hens, we corn the two lots of hens together, with the new birds enclosed in their run. We do this for a week or more - thsi gets them used to seeing each other. Then at night, one they've all gone to bed, we move the new hens in with the old ones - the idea being that when they come down in the morning, they think they're all one flock. I know hens ain't bright but I'm sure they know there are new hens! Ideally, you should move both lots into accommodation new to both groups - this destabilises the existing flocks - but we don't have the set up to do this. Ours free range, so any bird being bullied just legs it but we've never had any problems (touch wood) with bullying, although there's always a bit of a ruck as the pecking order is re-established.

Hope this helps!

Title: Re: hello
Post by: stephen on March 03, 2008, 08:47:45 am

hey and welcome to the forums  :)

Title: Re: hello
Post by: Francis Bacon on March 03, 2008, 07:41:50 pm

Hello & Welcome to this great site  ;D

Donna

Title: Re: hello
Post by: Fluffywelshsheep on March 10, 2008, 12:00:32 pm

hiya welcome to the group :)

Title: Re: hello
Post by: Rosey on March 10, 2008, 06:51:03 pm

Hi Lindyloo
Welcome to the forums and one of the friendliest places to chat.  I keep chickens, five sheep ducks and other animals. I live in Lincolnshire, not far from you and will be popping to Newark show in May (can't wait).


Rosey

Title: Re: hello
Post by: pigsatlesrues on March 10, 2008, 10:16:04 pm

Welcome Lindylou. We have some mini buff orpingtons , they are so funny to watch. Hope to get a trio of Brahams this spring. Looking forward to reading your postings.

Kate