hows this for a plan?

[lucyb]

Hi, so, sooner or later I have to integrate three groups of birds together...wondering what you all think of the plan....

Group One:
Big Birds: in big pen, 4 months old, look like this (their rep. today is Honeysuckle)

Here they are as a gang:

Group Two:
5 week olds with broody hen, two light sussexes and three silver campines:

Group Three:
Four Barred Rocks, nearly 6 weeks old

Groups two and three are in a pen within the big pen that's divvied into two parts so they're separated. In a week or so I thought I'd put the broody hen out into the big pen with the 4 month old birds and then take out the divider in the small pen and put the two baby groups together. Leave them like that until they're 12 weeks old then put them all out in the big pen with the older birds.

What do you think?????

 

[crazychicken]

well I would say no to the removing of the broody thing because of the cold weather but you live in New Zealand and i have no idea what the weather down there is like. so do not take my word as a definite no.

 

[lucyb]

Thanks for the reply....it's mid summer here now and hot as a hot thing...so no prob with chicks getting cold. Olive, the broody, gets pretty mad at the BRs next door, so I thought maybe a good idea to get her out of the picture before the babies go out with the bigger birds ...?

 

[birdlover]

I like the idea of putting Olive with the bigger birds but could you wait a little longer? She probably won't want to have anything to do with the chicks in another week or two and then she won't be upset if you separate them . Just a suggestion. It sounds like you have everything all thought out and I don't see why it wouldn't work. Can group 1 see group 2 and vice versa. If not, I'd be on guard to be sure Olive doesn't get beaten up when she is returned with the others. Good luck!!!!

 

[lucyb]

Ah, ok thanks. Yup, I can put Olive out whenever is best, was wondering if I should wait a while...so I'll give it a couple of weeks or so. All the groups can see each other as the baby en is within the big pen and I feed them all at the same time in the same little area and they all on great; sharing cabbage leaves and so on through the wire netting. The only one who puts a bit of a spanner in the works is Olive...she pretty much dislikes everyone, birds, people, whatever. She's a great mum though. Anyway, she's the Mum of group one (the big 4 month old birds) and was totally their boss when she was out in the pen with them before she was in the broody pen with latest lot of babies.
Okydoke, I think I'm on track now, will proceed with the masterplan in a coupla weeks. Thanks! L