What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[slip and pitch]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some advice and reasurance please! I have a big speckaldy maran called Alice who is the top chook,and a black rock called Beryl. Sadly my other hen Marge had to be put down earlier this year and so this week we collected some new arrivals. (One buff orpington called fatty and two columbian bantams called Doris and Dizzy). At the moment the new three are seperated together and not getting on too badly considering. Last night I thought I'd try to introduce them into the cube They let Fatty in with just a few pecks but the bantams just became an instant target and I took them out straight away. I got up at 5am and all seemed quiet but when she came down into the run to join Alice and Beryl they went mad at her.

They've all been out free ranging today,Alice and Beryl have chased Fatty a lot but let her sit near them once or twice. Dizzy and Doris didn't really come out much by choice and seemed happy just to keep out of the way. a couple of times I saw Alice and Beryl standing near them without attacking them.

What should i do now? Should I keep trying to get Fatty to sleep in the cube and have to keep the bantams seperate? Or just keep Dizzy and Doris seperate for the time being and try to introduce them again at night later on? All three newbies are just coming up to point of lay,I'd love to think that they'll eventually all sleep in together but I'm particularly worried about the bantams taking a hiding in the night as they're small.

Sorry for such a long page,it's my first go at introducing new hens. Any advice welcomed with open wings . Thanks x

[Falkor]

Read this for some great advice on introductions: viewtopic.php?f=42&t=25886&view=unread#unread

 

I have followed this both times that I have done introductions and have had hardly any probems so far

 

Brandy (buff Orp) and Saffy (creamlegbar) have been with us for six weeks and it was only this weekend that i introduced them to the cube and sleeping with the big girls.

 

My main advice is take your time....take as long as you can....

[Olly]

I'd agree with the above ... slowly, slowly is the best way. It's a pain but it works in the end. You may have more trouble introducing bantams to hybrids though (if I've understood correctly that's what you're doing?) Some people manage to have the two together in a flock, others say that they don't mix.

[Tweety]

Palmer07 is right - it will take time and it is best to go as slowly as possible. I would definitely keep your new girls separately but within sight of the others until your old girls have got more used to them. My girls are a mixture of big girls and bantams and, by and large, they all get on well but others will tell you that it is not a good idea to mix the two. I took months over the introductions though.

[slip and pitch]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I read the link that was posted and seem to be going about it right but I'd under estimated the time scale. I hadn't thought it could take six weeks or more but if that's what it takes.... I had to put Fatty back with the bantams in the temp house tonight,Alice and Beryl just wouldn't leave her alone. Just out of interest Tweety,do your bantams sleep in the coop with the big girls? If they do,how was it the first few times you put them in there? Cheers x

[Tweety]

Yes, some of my bantams do sleep with the big girls and they seem to be fine. I kept them separate at bedtime for quite a long time and, in fact, it was the bantams themselves that decided to move in with the others one night, and they have been there ever since! Good luck with the intros - I think you have done the right thing putting Fatty back with the bantams, it really isn't worth rushing things.

[slip and pitch]

Thanks for that,I'll just give it plenty of time then and hope that one day peace with resume. Fatty tried to go into the cube last night of her own accord and Beryl went for her and made her comb bleed so i'll have to keep my eye on things. All the best x