4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Babs&Ginger]

Never thought it would come to this, but I've had to ring Omlet about Babs today. I can't watch her bully Ginger any longer. She pulled her by her tail out of the Eglu last night....she looks almost oven ready with the amount of feathers Babs has pulled out of her chest. The tops of her legs are down to the white feathers underneath & she pecked her on the head this morning. Spoke to Omlet & explained that I've tried everything....bumper bits (she can't pick up pellets or corn with it on), anti-pek spray, which she didn't seem to mind the taste of, must've added a bit more flavour to poor Ginger's feathers. They free range every night & got on fine, but last night Babs had Ginger whilst they were out in the garden. They've got toys, they get corn on the cobs, mealworms & corn. We're even in the process of building a bigger run for them. Ginger might as well be a battery hen the way she's living at the moment with Babs, I know she's only a hen, but I'm sure you'll all agree that she still deserves good quality of life & I don't feel as if she is at the moment even though it's through no fault of my own! Babs is leaving the coop tomorrow. Omlet can't pick her up until the 27th August, & by then I think Ginger will be bald & even more miserable. Luckily I live in Birmingham & they're only 40 minutes drive on the M40. She's being replaced by 2 more Gingernut Rangers, they seem to be more docile than the pepperpots. I just hope the 2 new ones don't pick on Ginger now.....

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear it.

 

I'd take the new intros slowly, as outlined in the FAQ.

[Yolky]

That must have been a tough decision to make I hope the new chooks are kind to Ginger.

[Ange1]

Oh dear sorry to hear about that.

 

AS you say, you've done everything that you can think of.

 

Hopefully with Babs gone, Ginger might feel more like top hen and say to the other two rangers 'well I was here first' and she will hold her own.

 

Keep us posted.

[Babs&Ginger]

It wasn't easy, I do feel as if I'm a bit a failure with Babs & have given up on her quite easily. But they've been here a month now & she seems to be picking on Ginger for fun now....they seemed to have sorted out the pecking order & calmed down but she started up again but more savage & more often than before. I'll read the FAQ's, but what's the best way to introduce them....?

[Ange1]

S l o w l y !!!

 

With a nice cup of tea and a slice of cake?!!

 

Sorry in a silly mood today!

 

You need an eggspert!

[Snowy]

Sorry to hear about Babs - but do not beat yourself up about it, you did everything you could. We do have to accept that, sadly, some chickens are just rogues who will never improve their behaviour. Babs probably needs a cockerel to keep her in line.

 

You will most likely find that Ginger will now become top hen, and it is a good idea to get two new ones to introduce at the same time. Try putting them in the eglu and run while Ginger is out freeranging and let them see each other through the run first. I would then let Ginger back in at roosting time and leave them together overnight. In the morning, if you cannot let Ginger out to freerange straightaway, try splitting the eglu run with bamboo poles (Ginger is likely to make a dash for the food end of the eglu so can be penned there), like this:

 

there is likely to be a bit of posturing and pecking, but hopefully it won't last long and you can increase the time they are together.

[koo2cat]

Poor you! We have had a terrible time with one of our gingernuts since the start. We were about to evict her but tried a bumper bit as a last resort and I am pleased to say it has worked for us. She can't peck at whole corn on the cob but I have watched her carefully and she can pick up raisins and eat her pellets/drink as normal. I figure missing out on corn on the cob is her punishment for all she has inflicted on the other hens.

 

I hope you have better success with your 2 new hens. Unless you have been through chicken bullying, you don't realise how stressful it can be.

 

Best of luck!

[Ange1]

Snowy Wow!

 

Where did you get that 'push-me-pull-you' chicken?!!!

 

Want one!

[Babs&Ginger]

That looks a brilliant solution!! Thanks!!! It suddenly dawned on me after I'd spoken to Omlet that I haven't got anywhere to keep the new girls when they arrive!!! We've got a few panels for the new run made up already so we can keep Ginger in the garden tomorrow by propping up some of the panels so that she can stay free range all day tomorrow - my dog isn't too keen on them so leaving her to her own devices isn't an option, plus she'll demolish the peas & plants if shes got the whole garden to herself!!! Will they be OK in the Eglu at night together?

Sorry to hear about Babs - but do not beat yourself up about it, you did everything you could. We do have to accept that, sadly, some chickens are just rogues who will never improve their behaviour. Babs probably needs a cockerel to keep her in line.

 

You will most likely find that Ginger will now become top hen, and it is a good idea to get two new ones to introduce at the same time. Try putting them in the eglu and run while Ginger is out freeranging and let them see each other through the run first. I would then let Ginger back in at roosting time and leave them together overnight. In the morning, if you cannot let Ginger out to freerange straightaway, try splitting the eglu run with bamboo poles (Ginger is likely to make a dash for the food end of the eglu so can be penned there), like this:

 

there is likely to be a bit of posturing and pecking, but hopefully it won't last long and you can increase the time they are together.

[Lynn]

It's a pity you are not near to me you could have borrowed our Eglu. It's stressful having a naughty hen and poor Ginger being on the receiving end - hopefully when your new girls arrive equilibrium will be restored and Ginger's bott will be fine and dandy

[Snowy]

Snowy Wow!

 

Where did you get that 'push-me-pull-you' chicken?!!!

 

Want one!

 

Oh yeah Never noticed that before - they do look odd don't they!

[Tiggy]

I introduced 3 new young gingernuts to my 1 surviving ex bat, it helps to have extra feeders Saffy was then top hen I was here first & bigger that you!!! there was a little posturing at first & Saffy sometimes has to keep them in order but there were no real problems, she hated being on her own

[Egluntyne]

what's the best way to introduce them....?

 

Have a look **here**.

[Steph101]

Sorry to hear that. When you've tried everything, that's your only option. I had to do a similar thing a short while back. It's heartbreaking to watch bullying.

[The Brown Clan]

sorry to hear that but as you say , its not fair on poor ginger , mith mine its the other way round my gingernut and sussex hybrid kept picking on my pepperpot who is soo docile , so babs must have been severe !! good luck with the new introductions and keep us posted, don't feel bad you did all you could do .