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

[maryeadrian]

Didn't want to hijack another thread, but my introduction problems have a bit of a twist. I have one 21 week old hen. I'm adding 2 15 week old hens. They're in a run next to the other one's enclosed run and can see each other. My original one is so excited she keeps pacing. She's been alone for over 30 days and needs buddies. The new ones will sleep in a crate with a roost in our basement since I don't have a 2nd eglu for now. One of the new ones is close to the same size as my original one, but the other one is a tad smaller.

 

Should I still go slow since the introductions are 2 new hens to one established hen? I was thinking of hanging some corn in the free range area. We're in a city, so the area isn't huge, but it's more neutral than either run area.

 

What do you think?

 

Thanks!

[xScrunchee]

I personally would still take it slowly to be honest.

When I had to introduce 2 new hens to Rose a couple of years ago-I was shocked by how evil she became

 

The new ones don't really stand up for themselves and she would literally jump on them and rip their feathers out.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm adding 2 to 3 so a bit different but I'd suggest taking it very slowly too. Have you let them out together yet? Food as a distraction seems to work really well when I do it. I'm not letting them be together unless I'm around and I haven't put them in to sleep together yet although I might try that soon. Apparently spraying them with a weak vinegar solution can help (so they all smell similar).

 

How long have you had the new girls? I saw a lot of pacing and perimeter fence patrolling at first but it's calmed down a lot over the (almost) 3 weeks.

[Leicester_H]

I personally would still take it slowly to be honest.

When I had to introduce 2 new hens to Rose a couple of years ago-I was shocked by how evil she became .

I second that - my lovely Boo is evil when she sees my new girls, particularly the more timid one. See http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=51732

 

H

[teri]

letting them free range together first is a good idea as they can escape to safety if needed. just watch them for any signs of aggression. i introduced my silkie to two established light sussex in one day! they free ranged together without incident and took themselves to bed as a trio! the sussex are quite a bit bigger than the silkie but they are all fine together.

simple thing such as having extra feeding stations also helps as they can become aggressive over food.

good luck and let us know how you get on.

[maryeadrian]

Thanks everyone! I've only had them since yesterday. The older one is squaking it up this morning and pacing. She knows they're around here. (Wish it were about an egg instead! ) The 2 new ones are still quiet in their crate. I have a place in the free range area where they can run from each other, if needed. Plus I have a place where I can hang a corn cob for them to jump at.

 

I can see where my older one, Caliope, could get evil! Yes, I sure can. Or maybe desperate for company. The 2 new ones are so very quiet I'll take it slowly, see how it goes.

 

I took the rest of the week off work to watch them, so this ought to be interesting!

[sparkysmum]

Hi , we introduced 2 new chicks (about 12 or so weeks old) to our ex batt girl Boris at the end of July. We've taken it real slow. Although they free ranged together every day they have only just ( Tuesday this week) shared the same run. They are still not sleeping together!. I have moved their temp. shelter under the platform in the WIR and will leave the sleeping arrangements up to them. It hasn't been all plain sailing. Boris did peck a little in the first few days, but on the whole she's been great. We only moved the youngsters into Boris's run because she seemed so lonely but she's not 100% accepting of them in what she seems to regard as her run. However compared with what I've read on other threads we do seem to have got through relatively unscathed. Good luck Ax

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Allison, are you planning on putting them together at bedtime soon or not? I'm wondering if I should be doing that .

 

Glad to hear it's going well .

[maryeadrian]

So how soon did you let them free range together? After a little pacing my older girl settled in and at one time sat right up against the wire where the other girls were sitting. I know being together will be much different, but am wondering if it's too soon to try them free ranging. I"m home this week and that's about all I do...watch them! It's been the joke in our household.

[Egluntyne]

I'd leave it a little longer....till the new girls are at POL, at least 16 weeks and big enough to stand up for themselves.

 

**click**

[maryeadrian]

That makes sense. I never knew what a could indicator would be and POL makes a world of sense. Thanks!

[maryeadrian]

OK, my new girls are 16 weeks old. I've let them free range with my older girl, but only when the older girl is calm and not pacing. I supervise the entire time, squirt bottle in hand.

 

No real pecking has happened. My older one will run and chase a little, but not for long. She's pretty much showing them who she is and her place among them. The new ones always run away and never challenge her. Then they coexist for awhile together until the older one starts chasing again. No ones' been hurt. I haven't seen her actually peck either of them, only chasing and bit of squaking. The longest they've been together is an hour.

 

Should I keep doing this and extend the times? Or should I keep it short and sweet?

 

Thanks!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That sounds similar to what I've got going on. I'd extend it a bit if I were you. I think the longer they are together the calmer the older one gets.

 

I have seen Maisie grab a feather on one of the little ones and hang on, which isn't nice to watch, but they don't seem to have lost any feathers yet so obviously manage to get away from her.

 

I inadvertently left them all together in the WIR today . I hadn't put the Omlet run divider in properly and left a gap . All seemed calm when I came home from work though and no signs of injury .

[maryeadrian]

Thanks. Yeah, I don't think it's time to put them together all the time yet. Not even close. Extending time on weekends when I'm home is what I was thinking. I never leave them alone.

 

Glad yours turned out so well! What a relief that must be!

 

Thanks again!