Single hen

[Littlemisshappy]

Hello everyone!

I have just joined Omlet, but have had 3 girls since September. They are all ex batts. Up until now I have had no problems and then January I rescued three more ex batts. The introduction process has been long and problematic. At first I keep the three new girls in a seperate home but on the other side of a wire fence so they could at least see one another. Well my first three girls manage to escape and really hurt two of the three new girls. To the extent that the stress killed them. I now have one of my girls caged on her own and the other three together still. Then after four weeks of "seeing one another" I started to put the new girl in with the others, but only at night when they were roosting, as instructed by the BHWT, and then removed her in the morning. Well my old ladies clocked on to this and started to peck her in the middle of the night, so I had to remove her and put her back on her own. She is doing fine now, eating like a trooper but hasnt laid one egg, Ive had her for three months nearly. And now I find that my first three ladies are going bald on their bottoms. I first noticed it a week or so ago on just one and it was a small area. Now its quite large and very red, and another one of my girls has it too! I have treated all four with red mite powder, pressure washed, disinfected and treated the cages, and have bought that Biolet pray to stop them pecking the red areas. I woke up today to find my first three are now drawing blood. Im at my witts end, I really dont know what to do, I am going to buy some anti peck spray as well, but I really dont know what to do with them. Im so worried Im going to loose another lady, it has completley taken all the joy out of having them! Has anyone any idea why this might be happening to them, and how I can resolve it without upsetting them too much?

 

Thanks!!

[Hen Watch]

Oh how awful for you.

 

If your 3 original girls are drawing blood on your remaining 1 chook she might need to be separated so they don't continue. Maybe antipeck spray or antipeck beak rings might help. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than me will come along soon. But in the meantime you've probably already seen this info about intros in FAQ but here it is anyway just incase.

 

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=25886&view=unread#unread

 

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=12688

[Littlemisshappy]

No I hadnt seen these two links!! What a brilliant little eglu contraption! Thank you for the links, I shall keep at it and try the anti peck spray. I just feel so sorry for my ladies, I wanted to give them such a lovely home after the way they had been treated and so far, its not going to well!

 

But I shall persevere!! All this hard work will be worth it!! They will be happy, non-bald ladies!

[Groovychook]

Hello Littlemisshappy!

 

This is my second attempt to reply to this- gave up when it was taking an age to submit my response...

 

I had problems with a blood drawing pecky girl and after following advise on the forum, I ordered a bumpa bit from http://www.thewernlascollection.com. It was a bit awkward to fit but once in place, solved my problems instantly. They only cost a matter of pence and the lady I spoke to there was very helpful. It fits over the chooks beak and stops them from being able to do any damage but doesn't affect them being able to eat or drink normally.

Having said that, I have no experience with exbats and am only presuming that they would be suitable in their case.

 

Hope somebody more experienced will be along with advise for you soon!

 

Best of luck!

[Littlemisshappy]

Hey GroovyChook!

 

Thank you for the adivce on those bumper bits, they look horrid little things but if they work, then Im all for it! I checked them yesterday and they havent had a go at one another since, but that doesnt mean anotything, my ladies are very sly!!

I have a good few suggestions now to go on which will help me! I am also building them a bigger pen too 8ft x 8ft x 7ft in order to give them a lot more room, as a family member suggested they could be in too smaller run.

Regardless of this, they will be having those bumper bits and a very stern talking to.

 

Thank very much for all your help! I shall let you know how they get on!

[Groovychook]

they will be having those bumper bits and a very stern talking to.

 

Quite right! Show 'em who's boss!!!

[MerchDuw]

Hi. I just introduced 2 new hens (already got 2). They were pecking 1 raw. I bathed them all in vinegar / water (I was not popular) but there has been no pecking since. Simple but worth a try.

[Egluntyne]

Aggression issues with ex-batts often centres around food. They had to jostle for every mouthful in the battery cage and it takes a while for them to 'unlearn' this behaviour.

 

I would try the bumper bits at this stage, and put out several feeding bowls as they won't be able to 'man' them all.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum, Littlemisshappy . So sorry to hear you're having such a difficult time . I have no experience of this and so no advice to offer, just wanted to say good luck. You are doing a great job . I'm sure it'll settle down and you can enjoy yours girls again soon .

[Littlemisshappy]

Hello everyone!!

Well I have finished their new pen and I am pleased to announce that they seem to be getting along a lot better now! I have placed more areas of feeding for them too, and I have been hiding bit of veg around the pen for them to find and so far they seem pretty happy. I still havent introduced my fourth lady yet as I tried to let her run round today and my "beastie", as I call her, tried to go after her again so we arent quite there yet. I am still going to get the bumper bits, as I feel they can be useful even if they arent pecking at each other.

 

Thank you for all your suggestions, they have been most helpful, and seem to have had a positive effect

 

And Groovychook, the stern talking to didnt work, my beastie (Gertrude) just walked off and ruffled her feathers with her back to me, so much for that idea!!

[Groovychook]

 

And Groovychook, the stern talking to didnt work, my beastie (Gertrude) just walked off and ruffled her feathers with her back to me, so much for that idea!!

hmmmm... sounds familiar...

[AussieChick]

I had an almost identical situation: 3 original chooks picking on the 2 new ex-batts. Unfortunately I had the youngest "newbie" put down due to injuries sustained. (This was after a very long drawn out process of merging them.)

 

Once she had died the original chooks turned their attention to the last one and started bullying her. Anyway, two small squirts of Ukadex on her bottom and pretty much problem solved! I am so pleased.

 

Google "Ukadex" and you will find it online. It's expensive but it worked. I warn you now though - IT STINKS!