kathryn Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 Why did I do it? Life was so happy and carefree with the two little dears. But eggs are becoming very few and far between and we thought it might be fun to have a couple of energetic youngsters around to liven things up. So we brought home a cream legbar called Maggie and a tiny Yokohama called Charlotte. Now my Best Chicken Friend Kuzie is no longer talking to me. Will not look me in the eye and turns her back when I walk past. Will not even touch my chocolate cake and sunflower seed peace offerings. The two of them stand in the corner all day and stare daggers at the new comers and when it gets dark they stand guard at the Eglu door and refuse to let them in. My sweet comical little hens have turned into nasty little bullies and the new girls are terrified! I feel like I am living in a soap opera.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 Maybe try the intros gradually? Keep them seperate during the day - but within sight of each other - and put them in together at night? Plenty of feeding stations etc. There are loads of posts on here about introducing new chooks, you don't mention how old the new ones are but if they are little they will need to be kept seperate until they are at least 20 weeks old and can stand up for themselves. I feel for you, I have 2 that are the best of friends and would LOVE some more chickens, but I know what will happen and don't know if I can cope with seeing my two beloved girlies turn into nasty little witches! Good luck, hope they get used to each other in the end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kathryn Posted December 16, 2008 Author Share Posted December 16, 2008 Thanks Moomin. I have all faith that they will soon be best of pals. Other slight drama is that the newcomers can jump/fly over our 5 1/2 ft garden walls. I had never really considered this eventuality as the old girls are little fat fluffy things that struggle to jump onto a 3ft high table. I am keeping them in the run until I can think of a plan. Has anyone had much success with wing clipping? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 It can help, as long as they don't sail over the fence from the top of the Eglu. Don't forget to just do one wing per hen, to unbalance them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 I'm on the waiting list for some more ex-batts and am expecting fun and games at introduction time. I'm guessing requesting them to play nicely won't suffice. Chocolate cake and sunflower seeds, Kathryn? Forget the hens, I'll be your friend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 If its any consolation it does usually all sort itself out in about 3 weeks. I have done 2 sets of introductions in my time keeping hens and have always put them all in together - supervised of course. They have stayed as two separate groups for about 2 to 3 weeks and then they all seem to become one. Thankfully I've not had much bloodshed, just a peck to a comb at bedtime one evening, but as they were all in the cube I managed to hoick her out clean it up and pop her back in without any more problems. Mine too were a bit territorial about the eglu and cube to start with but again its all quiet and friendly now. I've never found wing clipping that successful as they have still managed to get over the omlet netting. However that isn't as high as your wall. Usually when they get older and start laying they settle down and are a bit less flightly - and heavier too! Good luck I hope they come to terms with their new hen 'friends' soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kathryn Posted December 19, 2008 Author Share Posted December 19, 2008 I'm on the waiting list for some more ex-batts and am expecting fun and games at introduction time. I'm guessing requesting them to play nicely won't suffice. Chocolate cake and sunflower seeds, Kathryn? Forget the hens, I'll be your friend! Ha ha, just as you don't mind the main course of layer's pellets as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
