Introducing New Chickens To Your Flock

Here at Flyte so Fancy the chickens outnumber the staff at a ratio of about two to one. This is fine by us, especially considering the number of eggs that we get from the hard working hens, however it can raise a problem when introducing new hens into our peaceful flock.

The introduction of a new chicken into an existing group can be a difficult time for your flock, readily leading to the new birds being bullied. With the onset of Spring and perhaps the inclination to "expand" your flock growing, this weeks Flyte so Fancy blog offers some advice on the best way to integrate new hens into your chicken coop.

FSF Gold Sebrights

• The traditional method involves being somewhat cunning and relying on your hens playing ball. If your flock is particularly placid, then one of the best ways to introduce new birds is at night after dark. Once your girls are on their perches, put the new hen into the chicken coop on the perches too. The result is that all the chickens wake up together, head out the pop-hole and go about the important business of finding breakfast. This is a simple and effective way to achieve integration. 
• If you have a particularly bossy hen currently running the pecking order in your coop, then you might want to try a different tactic. One of the best ways to acclimatise chickens to each other is to let them see each other. If you have a separate run or small hen house that you can place next to your existing one, or a place within your run with a small house you can fence off for a few days, this is one of the best ways to introduce a new hen, as after awhile the existing flock are completely used to seeing the new hens and don't think twice about them. 

A Broody Coop, great refuge for bullied hens

Boss Phill has some of his own top tips when it comes to introducing new hens into a flock

1. Make sure that there are plenty of refuges for a new hen to hide in should it need to. A few cardboard boxes with an entrance hole cut out make excellent temporary bolt holes which you can then remove and recycle. 
2. Increase the feeders and drinkers that you have in your run, so that your new hens will have access to food and water regardless of a bullying hen. 
3. Be sure to let your hens out early to avoid new hens and the existing flock being confined in the house and to stop any sort of argy-bargy that then might occur. 
4. If you have a bully hen remove her from the flock for a few days. She will lose her place in the pecking order and be re-introduced lower down the ranking. The bully hen is the problem, not the hens being bullied, so remove the bully. 

Following these few simple hints and tips means that introducing a new hen into your flock can be a simple and peaceful experience for you and your flock of girls. 

If you have any questions about introducing new hens in to your flock of chickens leave a comment below or call us on 01300 345229 to talk to a member of the team. 

Many Thanks

James

As Sure As Eggs Is Eggs!!!

There have been moments over the last few weeks where the sun, raising it's weary head over the Dorset Vale in which Flyte so Fancy is hidden away in, has shone down with all the warmth and cheer of a summers day.

Of course this has been interspersed with days so cold and wet that I found every excuse possible to avoid going outside into the rain, even doing paperwork and filing! However cold it might be the days are slowly getting longer and the Flyte so Fancy flock have stretched their wings, ruffled their feathers and are getting back into the habit of laying eggs.

A Gift from the FSF Flock

Having such a large flock of chickens, ducks and geese it doesn't take long when they are all laying for there to be eggs everywhere. Here at Flyte so Fancy we have some great egg storage ideas, which not only keep your eggs safe for breakfast but also look fantastic in the kitchen.

The Chicken Wire Egg Basket
Shaped like everybodies favourite feathered friend, the chicken shaped wire egg basket, is the ideal place for storing eggs in the kitchen. Functional as well as charming, the egg basket can be wiped clean with a damp cloth.

A brilliant gift for those who love hens, the chickens wire egg basket comes in three sizes, so even if your flock are working over time to give you more eggs that you can handle, there will always be somewhere to store them safe and sound.

Wire Chicken Egg Basket

White Ceramic Egg Tray
A lovely white ceramic egg tray for storing twelve large eggs, that really makes the colour of the eggs themselves a real feature of the kitchen. Both dishwasher and microwave safe, this is a classy alternative to cardboard egg boxes being piled all over the kitchen.

White Ceramic Egg Tray

Wire Run Egg Holder
Shaped a like fairground helter-skelter, this charming wire framed egg run will hold up to sixteen eggs. Put the freshest eggs at the top and take from the bottom and your eggs will naturally cycle through as they are laid.

A brilliant feature of any kitchen, filled with rustic charm, the egg run comes in a choice of two colours, either Cornish Clay or Flint Grey and is a fun way to store your eggs.

Wire Run Egg Holder

Of course, if your chickens are feeling particularly industrious, like our Flyte so Fancy flock, then you might need to choose function over style. Plastic Egg Trays come in a variety of colours and can hold up to thirty eggs, which can then be stacked upon each other to give you a skyscraper of eggs. Equally eggs don't need to be kept in the fridge, a cool dry larder or just on the kitchen worktop is just as good.

Always Popular, the Egg Skelter

The ever popular Egg Skelter will always be a great choice when it comes to storing your eggs and with a huge range of colours, including their Heritage colour range, there is one to suit any colour or style of kitchen.

If you have any questions about storing eggs why not leave a comment below or call us on 01300 345229 to talk to a member of our team.


Thanks for Reading
James