Joining two coveys - move to temp place, redecorate, join back in same place?

[gummylick]

I'm joining 2 coveys of 4 hens each from to separate floors, one on top of the other, to live now on the same floor. I'm going over in my head how best to do this:

1. put them separate in new temporary brooder/house
2. switch out sand for shavings (been wanting to do this for odor) on closed side of cubby
3. redecorate the open side with pots, straw, etc.
4. wait for night time. grab them one by one and put them in newly decorated floor (former home of one of the coveys).

Thoughts? suggestions?

 

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

Do you think the two coveys will get along already? I try not to throw them in together, even at night, if I think one will be overly-aggressive.

 

[gummylick]

Do you think the two coveys will get along already? I try not to throw them in together, even at night, if I think one will be overly-aggressive.

Is there a better way to join them? The only gauge I have on their temperament is them rejecting an injured roo. They mostly just chased him about alot.

 

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

Is there a better way to join them? The only gauge I have on their temperament is them rejecting an injured roo. They mostly just chased him about alot.

Generally, if one group has a territory they won't approve of the other. They seem to have been close in space, but the easiest way is 3 days of being together, un-barricaded, in a large space with at least 10 sq ft per bird. Separate coops at night. After those days it should have calmed down and they can be put together at night. Some integrations might take longer but if there is a specific bully you can separate for 4~5 days to get them to lose place in the pecking order. If you can't do that, try switching both groups' housing around for two days and then put them together at night. Still do a test run in the day before just in case, though.

I don't know the temperament of your birds, it could go fine if you throw them in together right away, but you could also end up with one dead bird in the morning, especially if they're moved to a smaller space.

 

[Nabiki]

I wouldn't throw both coveys into the same temporary space, but otherwise your plan is sound. By cleaning and rearranging everything, they will think it's a new place. By putting them all together at night in the new place, they wake up and everything is new, so they are less likely to fight since neither covey is in "their" territory.

That being said, you may end up with some that just don't get along with each other, but this is probably your best way to join them peacefully.

 

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

I wouldn't throw both coveys into the same temporary space, but otherwise your plan is sound. By cleaning and rearranging everything, they will think it's a new place. By putting them all together at night in the new place, they wake up and everything is new, so they are less likely to fight since neither covey is in "their" territory.

That being said, you may end up with some that just don't get along with each other, but this is probably your best way to join them peacefully.

Good point, I believe I read the initial post wrong and didn't see the temporary housing bit!

 

[Susan Skylark]

Throwing them together before throwing them together seems a little redundant! When I switched from pens to group housing I just set everything up and tossed everyone in, they did fine. You do get a mean bird once in a while, just watch and listen, they have this angry ‘purring’ sound and body language speaks volumes. I pulled a hen the other day and everybody went from hiding and heads down to eating and wandering around with half a minute! They’ll tell you if there’s an issue. When introducing new birds to the established group if you throw in 3+ rather than just one or two they also seem to do better, just make sure your space, feed, water, and hiding spots are over abundant.

 

[gummylick]

Here we go guys! The new eggs go on lockdown so it's time to make this join happen. So, I had two coveys, 4 hens each, one on top and one on bottom. At 4pm, I put them in the small house on their separate levels and cleaned out the big house:

They are going to top floor. Cleaning changes made:

• Moved the bowls up to their floor and filled with hay for distraction and hiding.
• Adding hanging fake plants (I usually remove these but using them for change of scene)
• The closed side had all sand floor for the summer. It really stunk more than I liked so I am going back pine shavings. Added a brand new glass bowl with sand for their bath.
• Moved the calcium white bowl from side to near water and instead of oyster shells, used crushed, baked egg shells for the first time.
• Moved camera from far back left to close right. Put food tower where camera usually goes.

Hopefully this is enough change! After sunset today, I'll go outside and slide them into the top floor.

On a side note, though I really like these tower feeders, ARGH they still drop sooooo much food! Any other suggestions for tall (to save space) feeders?