peggotty Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Hi everyone Thanks for all the advice I have been quietly reading over the last 7 months! Please can you help me with this problem: I adopted 3 more ex-batts last week, as I had only 2 remaining of my previous girls and was worried about being left with a solitary hen. I have been keeping the 2 little flocks separate, but during free ranging they wander up to each other's enclosures and have a good look without problem, however I have tried to let them free range together and the top hens from each flock (Duchess and Mimi) really fight and just don't give up. (There is blood.) If I put Mimi away (as she's the most vicious), the other 4 potter around with only minimal chasing and pecking. Should I carry on merging these 4 and keep Mimi in solitary until I get her a bumperbit and merge her separately, or should I keep my 2 mini flocks separate until I can get them all together? PS I bet now I've started posting, I won't be able to stop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Hi and welcome! Its not a bad idea to keep Mimi separate and merge the others, if Mimi goes back in later she will go in lower down the pecking order which could be useful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peggotty Posted May 8, 2009 Author Share Posted May 8, 2009 Thanks Redwing. I would like it very much if Coco and Fifi could become part of my proper flock and if Mimi was happy to be second place to Duchess at some stage in the future. The trouble is that my 3 new ex-batts seem a different hybrid to my first lot - they are much bigger, so that even though Duchess has been established boss in my garden for 7 months while Mimi has only just come out of the sheds, she is more than capable of taking Duchess down. I didn't want to hijack Barkisland's thread, but I will be watching for any tips/glimmer of hope for the future! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Article **here** on managing intros. It sounds as if you are nearly there. If there is just the one holding the smooth transition up, I would isolate her, and then merge her in a week or two, and she should then be bottom of the pile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 I isolated my worst offender for a couple of days only and although it didn;t stop her completely it gave the others a rest and helped the remaining flocks bond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peggotty Posted May 8, 2009 Author Share Posted May 8, 2009 I knew I was running the risk of disrupting the hen harmony in my garden by getting some new additions, but I was just expecting a bit of chasing and pecking, I had no idea that 2 hens would square up to each like cockerels and try and bash seven bells out of each other. Can I ask, do bumper bits work by not letting the hen get a grip on the opposing one? This is Mimi's tactic and poor old Duchess' comb is looking really bruised - although I guess it's partly her fault by not admitting defeat when it's blindingly obvious she's losing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Yes thats how a bumper bit works, it goes between the top and bottom parts if the beak and pokes out in front (like headgear if you ever had braces ) the hen can eat and drink normally with one on Someone on ebay sells them (look for a seller based in OXfordshire - they get them out really quickly ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
