Finally things have settled down somewhat. Separating Snowy for a while seems to have worked, this has now teamed Ginger up with Bluey and Maggie. Although at this moment they are all calling out and being quite noisy. Snowy still keeps the new 2 in line at times but isn't persistently picking on th...

Seems to have worked so far today, so it will continue until Snowy stops. It's quite funny really as the water gun is powered by batteries they now only hear the noise and they stop. The newbies made their way slowly into the coop tonight but then turned around at the door, so I ushered them in slow...

Got one ready and waiting, but keeping them apart for a few days. Bought an electronic nerf one which squirts 7 meters, so that'll reach well.
thanks for the tip though.
Dom x

Hi Sandy, Bluey is fine she obviously gorged herself before bed time. Got up early before the automatic door opened, checked her crop and it was empty. No problems today with her crop at all. Think it may have been rushing her food from being picked upon by Snowy. Separated Snowy today and had a muc...

Did you manage to get another hen?
If not I have got one if needed.
Dom x

Not too bad a day. Ginger Bluey and Maggie okay together, but Snowy, she's being the bully. Poor wee Maggie getting the brunt of it. Waiting until they have all laid and then separate then. It was Maggie and Bluey together and Snowy and Ginger, as everyone else seems to okay, except with Snowy about...

Just read this post as Bluey had a huge crop tonight after gorging herself today. I'll check her in the morning to see if it's gone down. I too pick mine up regularly to check them over. Bluey crop felt really full, so a little concerned. She ate so much before bed, during the day she has been fine....

Not as smooth as the first day was I'm afraid, there was hoping. Snowy top girl, poor Maggie at the bottom, but all of then laying. Having to separate them unless I'm with them. Putting Ginger, Bluey and Maggie together works fairly well and Snowy separate. All in the same run but partitioned off. T...

Well nothing major with them all. Bluey is very fiesty and Maggie just the opposite. Few scuffles but they settled ate together and drank together. 2 newbies didn't want to sleep in the coop so had to put them in myself. They are now in bed, tucked up and no noises coming from the coop. I'll try pho...

They have arrived. Didn't get 2 bluebells, got one bluebell and one magpie (black with white neck, lays brown/pink eggs). Nothing inventive but names are now Bluey and Maggie, must now change my attachment. So far so good, they were separate, but a mistake by me and then they were in together. They ...

Thanks for that kuikentje. I will try it when I get some photo's.
Dom x

All excited, one more sleep day, then here they come.
Dom x

Hello, I've owned chucks since March this year. Researched for a whole year, got the coop, got the run built well in advance (August 2012), in preparation. Was so excited when they arrived you just watch them for hours. Light Sussex called Snowy, Lohmann called Ginger and Black rock called Blacky. Y...

aceface,
I may just do that, don't mind having ex batts. thanks for the suggestion.
Dom x

Thank you most kindly, it is sad when you loose one, but as you say at least she's no longer suffering. Thinking about getting a couple of others in a weeks time as just having the 2 just doesn't seem right. I miss 3 eggs a day. Seen some Bluebells and Magpies where I bought my other 3 from and they...