4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[sleepymummy]

After losing our lovely Gloria at the weekend, we have bought 2 POL Speckeldy hens.

 

We kept them seperate until bedtime. Cynthia kept jumping and trying to escape. Daphne went to bed first followed by Marsha (our original hen), Cynthia decided to roost on top of the eglu. I showed her the error of her ways and she went to bed happy.

 

Morning came and they had managed to push their way out of the eglu into the run (OH hadn't secured it), food and water everywhere. To be expected I suppose.

 

Daphne and Cynthia went to bed first last night. Marsha went a good 20 mins later and booted Cynthia out. C tried again and then gave up and jumped on the roof again. I tried twice to get C to go to bed but she was chased out. I waited until after dark, put C in and she slept in the doorway. I didn't shut the door as it is so hot at the moment but when I went out this morning, both were in and Marsha was out and wouldn't let them out. Even if Marsha is outside the eglu run, in the bigger one, if she so much as steps in their direction, the run for it, back inside. They won't let me near them either and I don't really want to chase them for a cuddle!

 

What do I need to do to make their lives less stressful?! Marsha hasn't nipped them much, less than I was told to expect TBH, but she seems to be intimidating them by her very prescence.

[tidygirlsuk]

If it were me. I would leave them to it, unless blood is drawn. It can can a couple of weeks for them to sort things out. Maybe you could have a extra feeder if the fight over food.

[sleepymummy]

When I brought them home, I kept them seperate for a few hours and put a dish of water and one of food out for Marsha. I have left it there and it has been quite handy.

 

Thanks for the reassurace!

[Egluntyne]

Articles on managing introductions **here**

 

The slow an d steady method is less likely to result in injury, and takes no longer in fact than the pitch em all in and let them fight it out method of introduction.