Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[Louisdog]

I have been dreading trying to introduce my 5 new bantams to the existing four chooks but I bit the bullet on Monday, moving Judy the pekin into the new Flyte So Fancy run with the 5 14 week old banties. Then on Tuesday I move Monique the maran bantam across, then at nightfall Susie the silkie went in too while Flappy the mucky Star came indoors for her first ever bath. Anyway this morning Flappy the now-White Star went in with them too and so far so good, even though the baby banties are tiny.

 

They have been scratching for corn close together at times, but sometimes the older ones chase the babies a bit and I have seen them give the odd peck.

 

I hope they become friends and it doesn't degenerate into World War 3!

 

Helga the tiny Dutch bantam did try and peck Flappy earlier though which seemed a bit rash!

 

One more chicken to introduce, she is arriving tomorrow, a Gingernut.

 

Cheers

Alex

[The Dogmother]

Well done Alex - if you take your time and give the enough room, it will go well.

 

I have a dutch bantam too and she's the bravest chook I have ever known - she takes on birds 3 times her size.

[Louisdog]

The dutch bantams are so cute and full of character aren't they

[helenmb]

Thats great news, hope it stays that way and that the Gingernut doesn't change the equilbrium.

[Louisdog]

Me too - it's only a very delicate equilibrium at the moment - I will keep you all posted!

 

I have an Eglu for the intros, but I will try putting her in as soon as she arrives and see what happens. As they are all confused at the moment, I may get away with it

[helenmb]

Louisdog - I think sometimes you just have to let them work it out themselves if you can stand it, as they sort themselves out quicker this way. I'm going through a similar state to yourself with non-bantums but things are going pretty well all things considered.

[Louisdog]

I am glad you said that Helen, I wonder that too. I bought some 12 week old pekin growers and the breeder said I should just chuck them in with the adult flock of large breeds and they'd sort themselves out, and she wqas right, they did. Obviously I kept an eye, added extra food, hiding places etc but integration was surprisingly fast.

[Louisdog]

Ok equilibrium now destroyed by Hazel's arrival, d'oh!

 

Flappy my biggest bird keeps looking at her suspiciously and gave her a half-hearted peck on the tail, then they shared a bowl of corn and mooched around together.

 

The five bantam growers are being cheeky with odd chasing, the tiny dutch girl flapped in the air to try and have a go at Hazel, then normal chicken behavior resumed, the 5 are scratching for corn and passing Hazel without event, or standing next to her, no probs.

 

But my three adult banties are being evil and nasty, they keep puffing themselves up for a full on, flap-up-and-land-on-head-with-sharp-claws-then-peck-you-for-good-measure, attack. After two minutes of this, I gave up, they are now in disgrace in a wooden broody ark next to the main run.

 

Spent an hour sat with remaining lot - I have a handy wooden bench in the run which they have kindly decorated for me, nice - and all seems well, Hazel has tried both food dispensers and even investigated the peckablock.

 

Checking every 45 mins or so at the moment, let's hope the situation does not deteriorate further

[Haltonshappyhens]

Encouraging words required!.. I am introducing a Black Rock (the only one of my girls who is laying so far!) to my other two . Silver Campine and Cream Legbar, who have been together since day one. The story so far.. O.H. went away for a week and so to cheer myself up I bought another chicken (2 chickens were never going to lay enough eggs for our family of 6)... She has been living along side the girls in a borrowed eglu. Lots of squarking and feather puffing went on for a few days but now, two weeks later they all seemed relaxed enough to meet. Yesterday I let them out in the open for the first time I WAS A WRECK!.. they wre fine .. a few signs of pecking order decission making took place but on the whole they shared the treats along side one another and went around in a group. Today, I decided to let them out together again.. much the same as yesterday is happening.. they all seem fine but I dont know whether, if they all go to roost in the one eglu together I should let them or whether that will be a recipe for disaster and should insist no sleep overs for a few more nights?. . what should I do.. I am so anxious and worried, close to tears .. even though as my husband quite rightly pointed out there are many more worries going on in the world!..

 

[Louisdog]

I guess if you can be patient, better to let them stay apart at night a few more days. I'd then let the newbie sleep in the main house, and have the other two in the borrowed eglu, for a night or two before trying the big mix. I'd hang on to the borrowed eglu in case one of the originals needs to go in there if she decides to be a bully.

 

All sounds quite hopeful though so good luck with it and here's to a peaceful and united flock

[Haltonshappyhens]

what do I do if they all go into the one eglu tonight? Should I leave the newbie or turf her out into her own??

[Louisdog]

I'd leave them if they all decide to roost together. But maybe leave the eglu door open if you can (if it's safe from foxes) or try and get up really early the next day to let them out of the eglu, in case they decide to get lairy while cooped up together.

 

Sounds like you are doing all the right things though and they seem like they are getting to be friends already.

 

Cheers

Alex

[Haltonshappyhens]

thanks.. I didn't expect it to be such a stressful event!!. the two old girls seemed really anxious when I managed to get the new one away.. they weren't happy at all.. squarking and clucking like they haven't done before.. does that sound like a good thing or bad?? anyway.. all tucked up for the night.. start again tomorrow!

 

Thank you so much for your encouragement and advice..

 

justine

[helenmb]

I'd leave them all to sleep together as if they have managed to get into the Eglu without too much hassle, they must be happy enough to roost together if this is the case. Sounds like they want her to stay if they make a fuss when you try to remove her. Its just their way of protecting the flock if they make a fuss. My original Eglu girl did this, she didn't much care for the new girls but if she thought I was a threat to them she'd come running at me to tell me off (she could be quite scary as she wasn't that big) and I was only poo picking near the new girls

 

I certainly find that every day gets a bit better (sometimes a bit of two steps forwards and one step back for part of the day!) and unless blood is shed then they should work it out. The feather pulling looks and sounds a bit nasty but it is just to teach the ones lower down the food chain who is boss. Plus, they have their own way of sorting out the weak, gene pool wise.

 

I bought some 12 week old pekin growers and the breeder said I should just chuck them in with the adult flock of large breeds and they'd sort themselves out, and she wqas right, they did. Obviously I kept an eye, added extra food, hiding places etc but integration was surprisingly fast.

 

I've been advised now by two breeders to "let them get on with it" I guess that if you have a large number of birds you don't have the time for baby sitting them. They of course would remove any girls who got really picked on - or remove the perpitrator (as this re-establishes the pecking order when she is reintroduced).