h&schickens Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 A Lohman of ours died on Friday!! (Very upsetting). So we bought 2 Bluebells yesterday. Introduced them at dust last night and everything went well. Today though, all our chickens are pecking them and its really bad, so we have had to seperate them. Any tips on how to get them used to each other would be gladly appreciated!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 Sorry to hear about your hen . Introductions can be tricky. Do you have something you can keep her in to separate her from them till they get used to the sight and smell of her? I think some people separate their runs (with canes or similar) making sure there's food/water in both parts. I've also heard spraying all the hens with a weak solution of, say, tea tree oil to make them smell similar may help. Hopefully someone with experience will be along soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n2hec Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 Sorry to hear about your girl. I'm introducing 3 new girls at the moment. Got them on Friday. I searched on here for lots of advice on introducing before I got them (search facility is excellent). They have their own eglu anyway (but not the run) so we fenced off a section of the large walk in run just for them. They still have to get used to each other (even though they came from the same pen) let alone cope with three established girls 6/7 weeks older. I think Egluntine's advice on introducing looks really good and that's what I intend to do. Keep them separate but close to each other for about a week then let them all free range while I'm on hand and see how it goes from there. The Blue girl is definitely the boss already. Unfortunately the girls I chose, although about the same age, are very different sizes, but I think with a bit of time and patience they'll all gradually adjust and get used to each other. My older girls have been very noisy so have been free ranging longer than usual but they all seem to be less aggressive through the netting today than yesterday. I'm sure if you search the forum you'll find lots of excellent advice from experienced henkeepers. Hope things go well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h&schickens Posted June 1, 2008 Author Share Posted June 1, 2008 thanks both of you for the advice.. I have seperated the run and all is well at the moment! Just hope things work out ok and they get used to each other soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 That's good, hope it continues to go well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ's Chooks Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 We've had varying degree's of success with introductions including one death. my advice would be.... try and introduce a group bigger than you already have, try and get them to be all the same age (in the new group) or roughly the same size ... our small/youngest was badly picked on... the other thing we did... which some people i know may disagree with... but when you have seen a new chook pecked you would probably understand.... we fitted bumper bits from the start, and they settled much quicker. we still get a but of feather tugging but nothing too serious, and the main culprit's nose was definitely put out!!! Hope everything goes ok... it will settle, just be on your guard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 There are several threads on the forum on this topic. **here** and **here** and some useful info about rigging up accommodation **here** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 The only way to introduce effectively is slowly and with extra accommodation for the newbies. It only takes a week, so ask around your friends and on Freecycle to see if you can get hold of a bunny hutch to use. They will be far happier and you'll be less stressed too - in the end, it pays to prepare first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris70 Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 The only way to introduce effectively is slowly and with extra accommodation for the newbies. It only takes a week, so ask around your friends and on Freecycle to see if you can get hold of a bunny hutch to use. They will be far happier and you'll be less stressed too - in the end, it pays to prepare first Hi I'm trying to introduce 2 new girls too - have been doing it slowly - they were in there own eglu and run in the large run for 10 days before letting them free range together ..... and the pecking just didn't stop. I've put them back in there own eglu again now and will try again in a few days time - so just be warned - sometimes it does take longer than a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esta Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 What that is called is the pecking order, they have to find their place and there will be a few fights, pecking, squarking, so the quicker you put them together the quicker they sort it out. There will be arguments because the head hen will want to put them in there place. Don't worry they will settle! I've been threw it many times, we now have bantams, a cockeral and big chooks all living in a ginormous enclosure! esta P.S sorry to hear about Lohman x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 The only way to introduce effectively is slowly and with extra accommodation for the newbies. It only takes a week, so ask around your friends and on Freecycle to see if you can get hold of a bunny hutch to use. They will be far happier and you'll be less stressed too - in the end, it pays to prepare first Hi I'm trying to introduce 2 new girls too - have been doing it slowly - they were in there own eglu and run in the large run for 10 days before letting them free range together ..... and the pecking just didn't stop. I've put them back in there own eglu again now and will try again in a few days time - so just be warned - sometimes it does take longer than a week. It can sometimes take a while Vicki, although a week is the longest I have had. Patience is the best thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h&schickens Posted June 2, 2008 Author Share Posted June 2, 2008 Thanks again everyone for the replies, you lot on here are great!!!! All original chickens are always out in the run and the new ones spend most of the time in the shed. They keep venturing out of the shed now and again only to keep getting pecked at (poor things)! Hopefully things will settle down. I think my main problem is that they are younger and a lot smaller than the others. I have sprayed them all with water with a bit of vinegar in so they all smell the same. (Not worked)! I am just keeping a close eye on them over the next few days! I am starting to regret getting them, such lovely hens tho!! This morning the new ones were jumping on my shoulders and knees for some dandelion leaves (can't believe how tame they are to say I have only had them 2 days) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 Don't worry, take your time and they will integrate eventually - they will need the cover offered by alternative accommodation and will get pecked at firstm but it will lessen as they are accepted into your flock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
