Single hen

[brambles]

We're having a nice slow intro to one another...

 

My two existing girls came to us in Jan and own the place. They're about 16 months old and a good pair of regular layers. They live in the eglu, but need to go into the cube as I want them all to be friends!

 

My two new girls arrived a week and a half ago and live in the cube. They're POL. They've now stopped pecking one another in the face of adversity (the other two!).

 

They're now at the point of free ranging together, although the new two are still rather flighty and scared of the big girls who will deny them food if they get into the eglu, chase them and generally boss them.

 

Does this all sound normal for this point? Will it all be ok if I keep free ranging them?

When they go into the cube together the older two dominate and attack the younger two.

 

I really really need them all in the cube!!!!

[Olly]

It sounds normal but I'm afraid you can't rush these things! Are they sleeping together at night but separated during the day? have you tried feeding treats along the 'perimeter', i.e. along the edge of the run, if there's a shared boundary, or while one lot is outside and the other is inside?

 

A certain amount of bullying is normal, and it will take a while before this ceases. If they're free-ranging together ok, you could try putting them all in, just keep a close watch in case blood is drawn, and make sure there are at least two feeding-stations.

 

I think the slow approach is best, but if you've got an urgent need to have them all in one place, give it a try. If it doesn't work, then you can always go back one step and start the introduction again more slowly.

[brambles]

Thanks Olly. They only free range ok until one of the big girls decides to chase the little ones.

 

We've done the feeding treats either side of the run with the new girls safely behind bars and also done the extra feed station thing.

 

We're not at the point of putting them together at night as the big girls will peck - unless we should just go for it?

[Olly]

Provided you can be around to put them to bed, and up in time to let them out when it's light, I think it is worth trying, my experience is that once it's dark and they are sleepy, they will not peck. You do however need to separate them again as soon as it's light enough for them to be awake, and that's getting earlier and earlier!

 

If not, I wouldn't worry - just carry on as you are, and gradually the 'old' girls will stop seeing them as a threat. Don't expect things to be completely calm though, there will still be a few pecks to teach them their place.

[brambles]

So ... does the putting them in together at night help them settle together sooner? They have had one night together, but I think it was too soon as there was a lot of pecking! I'll give it another week, then I've got some time off work so can deal with the toing and froing between two coops.

 

Putting them together last time was hysterical, I needed night vision goggles almost and felt like the milk tray man, running across the garden with a special package!