Single hen

[Zoey81]

I'm looking for advice on introductions. I've had two chickens for a year tomorrow. I got them both from Omlet complete with their Eglu last March.

In Jan this year we bought two more girls from a very good breeder, we got a very nice Bluebelle and a lovely Coral. The Coral (Lilly) was quite a bit smaller than the Blue and on the way home got pecked quite badly on her foot (she drew blood!)

 

We presumed this was because they were in such a close space together on the journey home (it took about an hour) We introduced them both to our girls by putting the new ones in the Eglu and releasing the old ones into the garden for the afternoon thenn let them all spend the night together. This was fine. My matriarch Matilda had a few squarks and warning pecks at both newbies but nothing too serious.

The following morning we got up to a scuffling and noise so let them out only to find that Lilly had been attacked by the other 3, her head was bleeding slightly and her feet. We decided to take her out and put her on her own in a holding run until the bloody bits disappeared as we'd read on here that the others will be attracted to the blood.

We've since let them free range together, which goes quite well, she gets chase a bit from time to time and is quite timid near the others but she's even been dust bathing with Bluebell who's her main attacker.

As soon as we put them back in the Eglu run they get irritated and as Bluebell is the main culprit we decided to remove her the other week so that Lilly can get used to the two older girls without too much hassle. This seems to be working ok, she gets pecked by Matilda near the food pots (we bought extra ones) but just warning nibbles.

Lilly isn't laying yet so we know she's younger than the others, could this be the main problem? We currently have Bluebelle on her own, near the others, in the day, and they all sleep together through the night, then we remove Bluebell as soon as we get up! They let Lilly in the Eglu ok and she's feeding and drinking, with the odd warning from Matilda!

I know it's a long one but I suppose all I want to know is do we stick to what we're doing? Is it just a matter of time and a case of Lilly being a little bigger before we let Bluebell back in with them in the day. I have just ordered a run extension too so that when we're at work they have a bit more room!

 

Any advice will be great, it's been 6 weeks and i'm sure we've made a few errors ourselves along the way, I just want to know if I should persevere or is it going to be chaos forever!!

[Egluntyne]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to read that you are having a spot of bother.

 

Articles re managing introductions **here**.

 

I'm sure that if you persevre and make a few adjustments as described in the link above it will all settle down.