Steph101 Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 It's been two weeks now since we introduced our new girl, Penny (read all about our chicken nightmares under a previous post 'Chicken Bullying'). We free range them all day now, which helps relieve any tension, and takes the heat off her. There is no real serious bullying as such, just a few warning pecks and a little feather pulling if she dares to join in if treats are offered - obviously I have to make sure she gets her own little share. Problem is, she still never looks 'part of the gang'. It's really sad to see. She tries to join in, but she's not 'one of them' so she gets shunned. She just looks lonely. There's nothing I can do to remedy this situation, is there? The only thing I can think of is introducing ANOTHER TWO (and we clearly don't have room) so that she can have a couple of little mates, and it takes the heat off her? This would be too cramped wouldn't it, even with constant free ranging, as they need more nest boxes. I'm at a loss. Will things get better, or is she destined for a lonely life of misery? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Perhaps, STeph, you could find Penny a good home as a singleton. The ideal flock is one where the pecking order works untraumatically. Unfortunately, as others have reported, chickens can form gangs/cliques. I had a singleton once who seemed perfectly content on her own. A woman who lost all her hens but one to the fox, found that the remaining chicken adopted her (made her an honourary chicken! ) and was an affectionate and seemingly happy companion, perching on her shoulder or knee or cuddling in her lap. It seems to me that a comfortable life as a singleton is better than a life of rejection. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chanters Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 I've had one (she arrived last July) who's at the bottom of the pecking order who was picked on quite a bit. Always chased off away from the food and treats. One chook would even bite her comb and physically drag her away and it was quite distressing to see. We have 5 others and they had their own little cliques but she was always the loner and even more so when her sis unexpectedly died. The last couple of months however she's come out of her shell (excuse the pun). She gets stuck in with the treats, is a little more vocal and has just seemed to gel more with the others. I don't know whether they've had a fight and settled the pecking order or what but it's really nice to see that she now appears to be one of the gang! Maybe it'll just take time and I've found the pecking order has never stayed the same particularly if one dies, it goes all up in the air again! If she's physically in danger of being killed by the others then I think you should consider having her re-homed or at least separated from the others. Or perhaps you can increase the number of feeders and place them further apart so she's never denied food by the others. I really feel sorry for the ones at the foot of the pecking order, but I have to keep telling myself it's natural for flock birds. Poor little things! I keep telling her to stick up for herself but she is a bit of a wuss. Let us know how she gets on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph101 Posted April 16, 2008 Author Share Posted April 16, 2008 To be fair to her, she really is trying to stand her ground lately. I saw her grab a bit of toast yesterday, and one of the others tried to grab if off her. Usually she would just let the bully take it, but she ran away with the bread, determined to keep it. I'm hoping this will continue. It's not really vicious stuff, mainly just her not being accepted; so I was kind of hoping things would improve. It has only been two weeks, and I'd read somewhere on here that it's more like three weeks for things to settle down. But looking at them together being cliquey, I just wonder if it's likely to be a permanent thing. My husband and children don't agree that the situation is bad. They think she fits in just fine. But no one else watches them as much as me....! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Steph - I've had my skylines since before Easter and they are only now starting to get in on the action. It really does take a while for them to all settle into their little roles within the flock. I'd give them another two weeks at least before making any decisions. Is she laying? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara123 Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Second what Superjules has already said, give it at least another couple of weeks and by then I'm sure she will be one of the gang with the rest of them It took my new girl at least 4 weeks before it looked liked she was part of the clan with the others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph101 Posted April 17, 2008 Author Share Posted April 17, 2008 No, she's not laying yet, but I'd say she's only 21 weeks old, and we'll probably need to add another couple of weeks to that because of what she's been through. Our pepperpot is the top chicken, followed by two gingernut rangers... Penny, the new girl, is a Hyline Brown. The farm we got her from was awful. I think they breed for the battery market. I thought I would be giving her a better life! How naive was I! Looks similiar to the gingers, except she's got cream tail feathers instead. I was wondering if having different coloured tail feathers would make things worse for her, as I've since read that they will also pick on a bird who is different....? It's so upsetting, she's really pretty. Tara, did you introduce a new girl on her own too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 It really does take a few weeks before new hens are fully integrated. My little Toffee took ages to stand up for herself, but now she's jostling for the front of the queue when treats are being given, like the others. She's also giving the new girls a hard time, making sure that she is no longer the bottom of the pecking order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph101 Posted April 17, 2008 Author Share Posted April 17, 2008 I'm constantly telling my husband we need a cube for new chooks. He thinks I've lost the plot as we only had the eglu in Feb! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 You ARE giving her a better life! I've got the same problem, my smallest chook is picked on by the others, but no blood is drawn, and I check every night that her crop is full, so she is eating - this is just natural chicken behaviour, someone is always going to be bottom of the pile. This morning she was jumped on severely and sent scuttling down the back of the cube when she tried to grab some cauliflower leaf. Two seconds later, the same thing happened between the top chicken and her best friend! And top chicken doesn't even LIKE cauliflower greens I think part of the problem is that we attribute human emotions and values to them. There's no concept of 'fair' in chickenworld, it's 'me, me, me'. In the same way, bottom chicken probably isn't sitting in the corner crying and thinking 'they all hate me', she is more likely to be thinking 'I'll have to be quicker next time the treats come round'! Don't worry - as long as there are no wounds, and she is able to eat and drink, she isn't suffering and things will get better over time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chanters Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 I think part of the problem is that we attribute human emotions and values to them. There's no concept of 'fair' in chickenworld, it's 'me, me, me'. In the same way, bottom chicken probably isn't sitting in the corner crying and thinking 'they all hate me', she is more likely to be thinking 'I'll have to be quicker next time the treats come round'! I think you've hit the nail on the head there. I'm guilty of doing that and then have to take a step back and remind myself they aren't human. It's survival instinct and it's prevalent in all creatures in the animal kingdom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 When I integrated my last three back in January, it took weeks before my speckledy was accepted by the others. They all picked on her - possibly because she was slightly younger than the other two new ones and took longer to lay. Now, although still quite shy, she is a full member of the gang and makes sure she gets her share of treats and food. Do stick with it - I'm sure it will come good quite soon. To rehome her would be a shame, as she'd have to start all over again at the bottom of the pile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph101 Posted April 17, 2008 Author Share Posted April 17, 2008 I know, I don't want to re-home her; she's gorgeous. But not just because of that, but also because she's MY responsibility now. I feel I have to do my best to put things right and make her happy. I've spoken to a local breeder today who suggested introducing another Hyline for her to pair up with - she said I could bring her back if it doesn't work out. Would this be asking for trouble....? Should I get her a companion, or leave things as they are? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 20, 2008 Share Posted April 20, 2008 Steph, if I were you, I'd wait til at least the end of the month and for them all to be laying before making a decision. If you introduce another chook it's going to be at least another three weeks before the new one is accepted. One of them has to be at the bottom of the pecking order, no matter how many you have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Last year my picked-on little darling nearly murdered one of another two even littler darlings I introduced later. Introducing new hens is tough, and bringing in more when you have a problem may well make the problem worse. Even my fat, lazy, and good-natured Cochin (weight approximately 8 pounds) literally sits on any new young hens she meets, and there is a real danger they will be smothered. But it all works out in the end. I find it takes six weeks for a group to bond properly. I am coming to the conclusion that hens being introduced should be roughly the same size, which is why I have kept my Eglu to "grow hens on" and do gradual introductions. This is the coward's way out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Doesn't sound cowardly to me, just sensible . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I agree....if you can avoid trouble and vet's bills I'm all for it. That is why I am hanging on to one of my Eglus when the cube comes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Last year my picked-on little darling nearly murdered one of another two even littler darlings I introduced later. Introducing new hens is tough, and bringing in more when you have a problem may well make the problem worse. I was shocked at how spiteful my normally meek-and-mild lowest chook reacted to newcomers. The lowest have the most to gain by asserting themselves and climbing up the pecking order I suppose. I am coming to the conclusion that hens being introduced should be roughly the same size, which is why I have kept my Eglu to "grow hens on" and do gradual introductions. This is the coward's way out. I do exactly the same - my henhouse is big enough for all of them and technically the eglu is surplus to requirements but I feel I need it for that very reason. It's not the coward's way out - it's sensible to quarantine new chooks anyway in case they have any diseases/parasites that could spread to your existing birds, the common practice of just chucking them all in together is asking for trouble on so many levels in my opinion. (Superjules ducks and runs for cover!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...