And then there were five!

It's been a sad couple of weeks in this household. Obviously Mabel died, then one of the fish which has now ended with Lucie, our middle cat (aged 12) succumbing to heart failure (due to dilated cardio myopathy). Lucie died in Emma's arms on the way to the vets and Emma is understandably devastated. Anyway, on to the chickens!

As the nights are getting darker earlier, and the also getting colder, the decision was made to add two more chickens to the run and coop as the coop really is too big for just 3. Emma did some looking around and the people we originally got the chickens from had some more POLs, one breed which did blue eggs (which Emma's niece has requested). We made arrangements to go yesterday (Saturday) at 5pm but when we got there, they had sold all the blue egg layers. Emma was a bit annoyed, but decided to go ahead with getting two more as we want them to be as close in age as possible (the currents are probably about 20-22 weeks, the new ones 16 weeks).

So we came away with a copper maran (who lays very dark eggs) and a blue ranger (who is meant to lay brown eggs with a blush tinge) who have been named Edith and Edna respectively.

Now we have been naughty, and we know this. We don't have the room for a 30 day quarantine period, so the newbies were put in a dog crate at the end of the garden, in the shade, and we waited until the current girls were in their run and asleep, and then dropped the two new girls in through the roof. All seemed well.

Opened the coop up this morning to let them out. Doris, Bessy and Myrtle came out and started eating. All seemed well. Then Edna came out (blue ranger, smaller bird about Doris' size) and Myrtle just went for her and chased her to the end. The others then joined in on poor Edna. When Edith came out she had the same treatment.

I know we need to expect this for a few days at least, if not a few weeks, and just keep an eye out for blood being shed, but its very hard to watch. At present Edith and Edna are in the run whilst the other 3 are free ranging. All the text books and research say you have to leave them to get on with it, but that's easier said than done.