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

[Pedro1962]

I kind of knew that I was asking for trouble by getting my hens from two sources.

 

On Wednesday the Omlet girls ( and ) arrived with the . Once installed, I went off to Thornes and returned with a White Star, a Goldline and a Speckledy.

 

The immediately took offence and has made the Speckledy's life a misery ever since. To a lesser extent the has also been aggressive towards the Goldline. The White Star seems to have a foot in both camps and is the most "settled".

 

I hate to see them scared and unhappy like this. Will time prove to be the great healer?

 

At present, the is shut in the cube, the Speckedly is perched at the top of the ladder and the other three are prowling around in the run.

 

You can cut the tension with a knife!!

 

I have ordered an extra glug and some bumper bits. In the meantime, is it best to hold tight and continue with my water pistol target practice?

 

A little reassurance would be most welcome.

[Space Chick]

Keep at it with the water pistol and don't worry too much unless there is blood drawn. Although it can't harm to get some Violet spray just incase.

[quickcluck]

Debs is right. Water pistols are great. Also if you can get to the chief trouble maker fast enough at the time try to dominate her by pressing her to the floor.

 

Peace usually rules in the bedroom, so you should be OK, you may need to let early tho!

[Pedro1962]

Thanks. The Speckledy seems absolutely petrified of the and I feel very guilty.

 

I was hoping this would be fun...

[quickcluck]

It will be! Just give it time and you'll forget this bit

[Olly]

It's early days, and they are still establishing a pecking order. If you can, it's worth putting a branch in the run, or maybe some sort of perch to give different levels, it will give the 'bottom' chicken a chance to escape.

 

Pipi spent the first few weeks crouching at the top of the ladder, I even put food up there for her because I was so worried she wasn't coming down. I don't think her feet touched the floor of the run for ages, she was either up there or on the branch I have in there. She integrated eventually, and yours will do too.

[Pedro1962]

That is SO good to know!

 

My Speckledy and Goldline (who seem to have bonded together nicely) are, as we speak, perched at the top of the steps.

 

I have shut the cube door as they were huddled inside all the time and I am trying to "force" the issue as much as possible and letting them get on with it.

 

One thing I've learnt is that I need 2 water pistols, so I always have one charged up and ready to go...

[quickcluck]

we have a pump action super soaker

[Pedro1962]

A friend of mine suggested that it is like having kids. You read all the books, go to the classes, subscribe to the forum and all seems well and under control.

 

Then, when the little bundle of joy arrives all hell breaks loose...

 

I think a super-soaker will definitely be on my shopping list this week.

[Pedro1962]

UPDATE:

 

In answer to my own question: just over 2 weeks. The girls are getting on VERY well together with just the occasional bit of argy bargy.

 

(And just in case, the bumper bits arrived yesterday)

 

It is definitely worth the wait as it is a real joy to spend time just watching them doing henny things.

 

All in all, I am one happy hen daddy with a bunch of happy hens!

Edited July 18, 2009 by Guest

[quickcluck]

That's fantastic news pedro!!! It really does make it all worth worth while......

[Olly]

Great news! It's tough going through it and seeing them be horrible to each other, but it's worth sticking it out, well done.

[beach chick]

good news! it's pretty much the way I've done intros, just by letting them get on with it (after an initial quarantine/awareness period when they're separated) - but as Olly says you do need to have hiding places and escaping places to let the lowest in the pecking order have a bit of peace. 6 weeks into our latest intros and even Siouxsie Sioux the cream legbar and the world's wussiest chicken is now integrating nicely.

[Egluntyne]

Well done.

[Pedro1962]

It is such a pleasure to see their individual personalities starting to shine through. Friends that have come over, although initially sceptical, have without exception been won over.

 

Here's to urban chicken keeping taking over the world...