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

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Maisie has attacked Poppy and torn off one of the points of her comb .

 

I was in the WIR at the time, both babies were in the nestbox and Maisie just wouldn't leave them alone. I squirted her, tried to block the slightly ajar door with the plant sprayer but she just knocked it over and went back in. I removed her but she just wouldn't stay away.

 

I've cleaned Poppy up and she seems bright and alert. The bleeding is slowing down. I've shut the 3 older girls in the run and let Poppy and Penny into the garden with a glug/grub. No sign of Penny being interested in the the wound.

 

I don't have purple spray or rescue remedy but can probably get both today. I think I need a bumper bit on Maisie now. Not sure if I can get one today but will phone around.

 

What do I do now ? Should I split the run again while I'm at work? We're going away in October .

[xScrunchee]

Maybe section off the run but just put the naughty girl in there rather than the newbies?

 

A bumper bit might help-although Jasmine still manages to pull a load of feathers while wearing it

 

What a shame this has happened. Blimin chickens

 

Wondering if the bleeding comb won't cause a problem as it is already red so the blood won't stand out??

 

Feel really gutted for you

[Groovychook]

Oh no!

 

I've been following your introductions with interest and it seemed to be going so well!

 

All I can say is that fitting a bumpa bit to my naughty girl stopped her bad behaviour almost instantly.

Hopefully it would do the same for Maisie and then things might settle down before your holiday... I'd keep a close eye on her for the first few days though so maybe keeping them separated whilst you're at work would give you peace of mind...

 

Best of luck x

[Redwing]

I have just googled alternatives to styptic powder (as its not the sort of thing we keep handy is it?!) and they suggest flour - that should stop the bleeding

 

Do you have any blue or purple food colouring you can use to cover the red once the bleeding has stopped? (again not the sort of thing people have readily available!)

 

I agree with Scrunchee, isolate the bully not the newbies

 

Sorry you have suffered a set back but I am sure its just a small step back

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Thanks, guys . The bleeding has stopped and as xScrunchee says it's not obvious as the comb is red already (thank goodness her comb has developed a bit!)

 

The poor little thing was so desperate to get to the eglu she flew up trying to get in the (closed) stable door . I put her in the eglu myself and closed it and she laid an egg .

 

They're now freeranging together. They aren't showing any interest in Poppy's comb. I think the only dangerous time is when the babies want to lay in the eglu and can't/won't run away. The rest of the time they just run away or go up high (hence all the perches!)

 

I think I will put the eglu run back in while I'm at work for just now .

[Space Chick]

I am so sorry to hear that ANH, I would also say seperate Maisie if you are going to keep one separate, and also bumper bit her, at least for a while.

[katieD]

absolutely gutted for you!

 

with my new and old ones i only think they chase each other off when im about- i think its cause top hen thinks treats are on the way so gets all protective.

 

i would definaely put the bully in the seperate run- if you are still having problems with her ive heard somewhere that taking her out of the flock totally for a little while can help as she will enter as the new one?

 

hope alls ok- oh you can get purple/iodine spray at chemists.

 

good luck x

[Egluntyne]

I'd isolate the bully too, for a few days so that she goes back in at the bottom of the heap.

[atsw]

Hi ANH - sorry to read of the trauma. If its any consolation, we seemed to take a step backwards at week 4 of our introductions. Grumpy Fifi (our oldest hen, who has always been top chook) seemed to be accepting the chicks and not charging at them all the time, then one day, for no apparent reason, she really went for a group of chicks. No major damage done, one boy chick looks like he lost a tiny bit of a wattle, and all the boys (except Liquorish) lost tail feathers. Seemed to calm down as quickly as it flared up and the next days they were all back to together again. Still not sure what caused all the rumpus in the first place.

 

Andrew

[Cooks]

sorry to hear it ANH, you sound like you have everything in hand though wishing things improve for you

[Lewis]

I was going to suggest flour aswell, heard it works.

 

The blood may go black and bruise, rather than staying red, so ventian violet/terramycin spray is a good idea

 

Hope she is ok

[Ain't Nobody Here]

She seems fine, Lewis, thanks . It doesn't seem to bother her at all.

 

Should I get some spray then, even though the bleeding stopped fairly quickly? "Ooops, word censored!"ody's paying any attention to her comb.

[KateP]

Hope Poppy is ok and things calm down soon. They can be so nasty can't they?

[Lewis]

If you've put flour on it and its stopped then hopefully it'll scab quickly and be ok, if you have food colouring it might help but if it was me I wouldn't rush out just to buy some spray, especially if they're ignoring it

[xScrunchee]

I used cornflour when Tallulah cut her beak on the wire and it worked really well

I didn't put any spray on it neither as the other newbies took no notice. I think it's because the cut was at the very top of the beak where the comb starts and the comb is red so it didn't stand out.

 

 

I would love to know why chickens go crazy if they see a cut bleeding yet they ignore red combs and wattles.

[smokiechicken1969]

oh im so sorry. ive been following your posts with avid interest as doing my own introductions at the minute. you have been so patient, hope its just a little stumble and things will move forward again. fingers crossed xx

[sparkysmum]

, hope it's a one off and everything's OK now. Ax

[chick wiggle]

Oh how upsetting, been following your intros and so pleased all was going well. lets hope its just a little blip and they all start getting on again. For now i suppose a little seperation for the bully wouldnt do any harm. Fingers crossed and good luck

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Maisie slept alone last night. They were all together for a little while this morning but when I went out I found Poppy covered in blood again . I've cleaned her up and smothered her in cornflour and put Maisie into solitary. I have to go to work now so I'm just praying that it was Maisie and not the other two that did it .

 

There was no blood in the eglu so I think it happened after they got up.

 

(I'll be back at 12 as got to take ES to a uni Open Day so at least I'll only be away 3 1/2 hours.)

[Space Chick]

So sorry ANH, I think it is bumper bit time

 

Let us know how they are at lunchtime

[Cooks]

she's being a naughty girlie I agree I would definately go for a bumper bit. I have a spare one I can send you ANH if your stuck. Not sure of their size as I was given them myself but I could measure them for you.

Just pm me if you want one.

[Seagazer]

I'm really sorry to hear this, I've been following your introductions keenly too. I hope it sorts itself out soon.

[Patricia W]

ANH

 

I do feel for you! If its any more consolation, I'm suffering too! Why can't chickens be reasonable!

 

I had my 5 all together yesterday and my problem now is Phillip. I didn't expect this as I thought he'd like 2 new ladies, but yesterday, he went for one of the newbies, karate kicked her and visciously pecked her. She ran away and didn't seem to be hurt - but I'm reluctant to leave them alone together now when I'm not around. I guess it may be time for bumpa bits....

 

I don't know if anyone else has integrated newbies into a cockerel trio? The relationship between the 3 of them is so strong that they don't seem to want to let others in.

 

Tricia

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sorry to hear that, Tricia . It's horrible to watch, isn't it .

 

Things seem OK now I'm home. The blood has dried up (the cornflour seemed to work although it was fun administering it ) and there is no sign of further injury.

 

I'll let them freerange when I get back this afternoon and keep a close eye on Maisie .

 

Thanks for the offer of a bumper bit, Cookie, but Palmer07 is already sending me one .

[Patricia W]

How are things this afternoon?

 

I've actually chickened out (!!) of letting mine free range together this pm. I'm working from home on something I have to finish and I won't if I'm standing around with water pistols, watering cans etc. Can't really use the excuse that "I'm integrating my chickens so of course I've not finished your job !"

 

However, I'm sure we'll soldier on... If others can do it, so can we all ... can we???

 

Tricia