Single hen

[Mutrix Farmers]

We followed Egluntine and Claret's fabulous instructions about setting up separate runs, feed together, allow old girls to free range around new etc. We did this for 7 days and on Saturday allowed all 4 girls to free range together for the first time

 

All hell broke loose apparently (I was in London for the day so OH was supervising). Henrietta (big surprise there as we thought she was the timid one) has decided that she can't tolerate Jess the Coral Nick and pecked her at every available opportunity. OH got fed up with breaking up the fights after 3 hours and put them back in their own runs.

 

We tried again on Sunday, and Jess was OK as long as she wasn't in Henrietta's eyeline, but as soon as she caught sight of her, over she came for a peck. I tried making her submit to me, picking her up, shouting, throwing her in the run on her own but nothing worked, the attacks continued. Jess by now looked like a bag of nerves. We bit the bullet though a put them in one run (now adapted to 4 m long) at 5.30 thinking it's nearly bedtime they'll be a bit calmer. Threw in loads of food to keep them occupied. They all went to sleep in the Eglu, it all looked OK when we checked. Success we thought!!!

 

When OH opened them up this morning Jess shot out with Henrietta in hot pursuit. Henrietta has now been isolated in a run on her own for the day while we figure out what to do next.

 

Our other new girl Gertrude seems to have got away with looking very like the chicken we lost at Xmas so she hasn't been picked on at all!

 

There hasn't yet been any blood drawn although the attacks look quite savage. There has been feather pulling and OH thinks that Jess's comb is now being pecked. Are bumper bits the next step (really looking forward to fitting those - not!!) or will it take a couple of days to settle down?

 

Any expert advice gratefully received.

[Egluntyne]

All I can suggest is persevere and supervise.

 

Encouraging the sharing of treats helps enormously, even if it has to be with a barrier between them.

 

I find an icy blast with a well aimed hose pipe useful, and making any aggressors submit by pressing down gently on their back can teach them some manners.

 

It can take 3 weeks to a month before peace breaks out......or at least an armed truce.

[Mutrix Farmers]

thanks Egluntine. I read CookieMonsters post and realised that a week might not have been long enough.

 

Still tempted to make Henrietta sleep on her own for being such a cow!!!!!

 

Might order some bumper bits just in case.

[Cooks]

stick with it, it's horrible to watch but stick with it, I am at the stage where they are all together day and night with the occasional feather full or peck, but they are getting less and less I think!