Posted by Sacha on September 23, 2011, 6:36 am
Can we introduce point of lay hens to our existing year old mixed flock
of 6. Or will unholy war break out?
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Posted by <vicky on September 23, 2011, 6:50 am
> Can we introduce point of lay hens to our existing year old mixed flock
> of 6. Or will unholy war break out?
When we added the very young ones, we did it very gradually, blocking half
of the run so they could see each other, but couldn't get to each other.
It's a pain cos you need to make sure they have separate food, water +
sleeping place.
For the slightly older ones we got, which were POL, we just popped them in
the nest box at night then kept an eye on them the next day, and they were
all fine.
(of course /now/ one of them gets the crap bullied out of it! But at the
point of introduction, they were fine!)
Posted by MuddyMike on September 23, 2011, 6:50 am
> Can we introduce point of lay hens to our existing year old mixed flock of
> 6. Or will unholy war break out?
You might get away with it if you introduce the new hens after dark, but
there will almost certainly be some arguments until the new "pecking order"
is established. It would be better to put them in an adjoining run for a few
days where they can see one another.
Mike
Posted by Sacha on September 23, 2011, 7:08 am
>
>> Can we introduce point of lay hens to our existing year old mixed flock of
>> 6. Or will unholy war break out?
>
> You might get away with it if you introduce the new hens after dark, but
> there will almost certainly be some arguments until the new "pecking order"
> is established. It would be better to put them in an adjoining run for a few
> days where they can see one another.
>
> Mike
We can do that! Their run is very big and we have two coops. The six
we have are what I'd call intermittent layers but they were bought more
as pets than anything else. But as we've got a spare coop and enough
room, it struck me that it would be worth having some Rhode Island
Reds, or other really reliable layers to top up the egg supply. You
should have seen Ray's face when I suggested it - he nearly turned the
breakfast milk sour. But I think he's coming round to the idea now!
Every so often I say "I've had an idea" and he groans... I managed to
wind my stepson up beautifully by telling him I thought it might be
nice to have a Jersey cow for the house milk supply. For about 20
seconds he believed me. ;-)
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Posted by Dave Hill on September 23, 2011, 8:09 am
> >> Can we introduce point of lay hens to our existing year old mixed flock of
> >> 6. Or will unholy war break out?
> > You might get away with it if you introduce the new hens after dark, but
> > there will almost certainly be some arguments until the new "pecking order"
> > is established. It would be better to put them in an adjoining run for a few
> > days where they can see one another.
> > Mike
> We can do that! Their run is very big and we have two coops. The six
> we have are what I'd call intermittent layers but they were bought more
> as pets than anything else. But as we've got a spare coop and enough
> room, it struck me that it would be worth having some Rhode Island
> Reds, or other really reliable layers to top up the egg supply. You
> should have seen Ray's face when I suggested it - he nearly turned the
> breakfast milk sour. But I think he's coming round to the idea now!
> Every so often I say "I've had an idea" and he groans... I managed to
> wind my stepson up beautifully by telling him I thought it might be
> nice to have a Jersey cow for the house milk supply. For about 20
> seconds he believed me. ;-)
> --
> Sachawww.hillhousenursery.com
> South Devon
Much as I love Jerseys tell them you have decided on a Dexter, Sacha.
Smaller than a Jersey and will eat much more of the rough stuff even
some bracken, though you wont have as much milk for cheese or making
butter. and when you are all fed up with it it makes much better beef
than a Jersey. also you can use it as a draught animal so it would
make a good atraction pulling a small cart around the nursery.
Just don't say it was my idea.
see http://www.dextercattle.ca/breed.html
David
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> of 6. Or will unholy war break out?