Billy wants to move in with Daisy and Dora

[MEGAN]

Big Est went to put the girls to bed tonight and found Billy (tiny pilkie) in bed happily roosting with Daisy and Dora humongous Dorkings who seemed not a bit bothered he was there. Billy is only six weeks old and tiny compared to them. Big Est moved him to his own house for safety. Ideally it would be good if he could move in with them eventually but I'm afraid that it may be too soon yet if they attack or jump on him in the morning they would kill him. Anyone had a youngster of his age move in as early with LF and how did it go.

[Roodie]

Hi megan xx
How old is he ??? x
I did nt move my boys into the main run untill they were about five months old (Big enough to move out the way mainly) ......and they ve never been allowed to sleep in the main coop as Roodie would nt allow it !!!

hope you well sweetie xx
faye x

[MEGAN]

Hi Faye really pleased to see you back on here I hope things are going Ok for ou at the moment Iv been thinking about you. I'm fine thanks.

Billy is only six weeks old he is tiny and adorable and I integrated him in the large run with the girls Friday and there was no problems at all I was so surprised. Cyril is not at all bothered by him or Katie (boy) I could not believe how easy it was. I really don't think that he is old enough to go in with them yet but he is determined. The Dorkings really don't bother him its the little silver partridge pekins that race him.

[Roodie]

Yeah we re all fine thankyou sweetie , very tired but ok !
Hubby starts his 6 th session of chemo tomorrow so it ll be hard work again for another couple of weeks till his week off , bless him x we just seem to be back and to to the hosp at the min with CT scans , Heart scans Chemo days etc but we are managing just about and Still Smiling Just about !! hehe x

What happened to you hun .... you ve had an op ?? hope every things ok sweetie xx

So who should Billy be sleeping with at night ??
You free range your guys dont you ... Im sure even at a young age the tend to go to those who they feel safest with !!?? x

I dont know hun .... i would be worried he may get the brunt of something when the morning comes ... i know all my guys are calm last thing but alls very frantic once they want letting out in the morning x

faye x

[275wright]

Megan, If it was me I would be far too scared . He's such a little teeny weeny, I couldn't sleep in my bed. It's not worth taking a chance. I know the bigger ones seem docile and not to mind him but it would only take a peck and somebody else to join in and he could be killed - at best left terrified and injured.

I know mine are probably pampered too much but if I get babies, usually round about 6-8 weeks I always get two together for company. I would house them separately and give them their own little house and run for when I'm not there. I would let them free range with the others only under supervision certainly for the first few weeks until they were stronger and I had made sure there was no animosity. Even then I don't leave them outside at night in case they get cold with only being the two of them but bring them into the garage in a smaller container where they can snuggle up. I don't amalgamate them in the main house until they are about 6 months and by then they have built a strong bond with each other and don't feel so vulnerable. I have had ones who have remained best friends for years that were originally reared together.

I know Billie is on his own but I couldn't take a chance with him. Also he might try to perch with the rest and he is too young.


love Sharon xxxx

[MEGAN]

Sharon Mine are pampered too and I don't think I would sleep worrying either. Billy is with Katie (Wellsummers brother and Mum) Mum is getting a bit fed up of them especially when Billy trys to get under her . I did separate Mum for a day but she does still tolerate them and when they are in the big run all three stick together like glue and they seem really happy together she just gets stroppy when they are enclosed in the small run. Its such a difficult one I have never integrated babies so early before but as Katie is so much bigger than Billy and mum was fed up I felt in the small run he was getting a harder time than he would in the big run. He is such a nibble little thing if anyone goes near him he's off but as you say enclosed in the house at night he would not be able to get away if trouble kicked off.

[275wright]

I know Megan, it's always a worry. Mine would have been the same. The bigger ones would have been fine with the young ones when they were all outside running around, but if the young ones followed them into their house they didn't like it and got very territorial.

He's such a wee tote. I just can't stand seeing any of them being picked on and hens can be so horrible to each other at times. Sometimes a lot depends on the personality of the young one and how confident they are. We had a tiny little one Minnie who just didn't seem to grow much and was the smallest pekin I have ever seen, but she was scared of nothing and used to run over and try to take treats out of Harriot's beak. Nobody messed with Harriot!. If she got a peck it was like water off a duck's back and didn't phase her. As a result she was integrated in no time and was just accepted.Others have been timid and when they show they are scared it just encourages the older ones to be nasty.

[pottymoo]

I would have to agree Mr p is ok with raisin his son at the moment out in the run and the run isn't miles long but big enough for them to get of each others way and there is no fighting although I have seem mr p having a slight go at him but I doubt mr p would want raisin in his coop at night. I am quite surprised really that I haven't had any trouble integration went reallywell with the little ones and meg is no longer broody the 4 days she spent in the shed worked a treat and she doesn't bother with the babies like I thought she would. I do put the bigger ones to bed before the babies so that the babies don't go into the other coop they have a coop of their own in time I will just leave them all to know where they sleep moo x