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

[Patricia W]

I'm on the verge of giving in and putting the netting back up between them, so I need some encouragment from you lot who been successful with integration. I'm trying to integrate 2 x 24 week olds with my established trio ( in the wings are 6 x 15 week olds to be integrated so I need to crack this!)

 

I thought Phillip was the problem so the one good thing about him having to be isolated for a week so he got his medicine was too good an opportunity to miss. But Teddie ( top chook) started terrorising them. SO, I now have her in the sin bin today ( a large covered dog carrier) to give them a break.

 

BUT Phillipa has now started! She was fine with them before.

 

There's no blood, just pecking and chasing, but the littlest one is terrified and as soon as she sees a big one, runs round in circles and then hides in the bushes.

 

I'm out all day tomorrow so can't supervise. Am I too concerned? Should I just leave them to it? Do I leave Teddie in the sin bin whilst I'm out?? Do I put the netting back up tomorrow and start again on Saturday?

 

Tricia

[Jools]

The thing is that behaviour becomes ingrained, so the chaser will always chase and the runner will always run if that's what you let them do.

 

I know a lot of folk would say just let them get on with it, but I'd be inclined to put the netting back up until they're so used to the sight and sound of each other, they don't even notice when you've taken it down. It may take a while, but is usually does work. I said usually!

 

A fella does usually make intros easier, but not always. Sometimes he's too protective of his current ladies and aggressive with the interlopers. It all takes time I'm afraid.

[cluckingmad]

Keep at it petal, you'll get there in the end! We've had our new girls out with the others for a couple of weeks now and theres still hte occasional peck/chase going on, but they all happily settle back into their respective sides of the run in the evening...

 

How long has it been? Our babies have been separated by mesh for 2 weeks so far, got another 2 weeks to go till they're the same size as the others so thats when I'm planning on tentatively removing the mesh...

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Oh, I can sympathise . I've had the new girls since 22 Aug and Maisie is still being horrible. I'm keeping her apart from the rest when I'm out as I just don't want to risk any more bloodshed (only had one or two nasty incidents but don't want to risk it esp. as we're going away for a bit soon).

 

I vote keep them apart when you're not around, take down the barrier when you are.

 

Good luck . I'm going to resort to a bumper bit when I come back, if required.

[Egluntyne]

If you make the aggressor submit to you whenever they get uppity, it stops them thinking that they are in charge.....and that you are. Press down on her back and hold her gently down for a few moments when you see her having a go. It might help.

 

If you give the younger ones refuges such as branches , boxes etc, that can help too.

 

Nil desperandum!

[Daphne]

Hi Trish - it sounds like Teddie is busy being Mrs Philip as he's not there....can she hear him do you think? Maybe get him completely out of sight/sound might be best if thats possible. I don't have a magic solution, other than to follow everyone's good advice (personally I think I'd keep them separate when I wasn't around). I'm not sure if you've done this (you probably have) but have you tried putting 2 x newbies in with older girls when it gets dark? I did this with 2 newbies this summer, older than yours but still younger than my established lot. It worked well with the usual minor peckings - and when this happened we sprayed the newbies with stockholm tar so the older girls got a nasty beakful.

Daph

[Patricia W]

They've actually had sight and sound of one another since July. They were too small to be let near the big girls at first. Maybe they're been apart too long and each has got used to their own space.

 

Also I'm wondering if they have too large an area to range in ( about 30x 30 with loads of bushes) so they can avoid each other most of the time- except when they " bump" into each other.

 

I'll try confining all 4 in a smaller area on Saturday and monitor them. I notice the 2 oldies tolerate the one coming into lay better than the littlest one who has no sign of wattles.

 

I will separate them tomorrow though as you suggest. It's going to be fun getting them all organised before I leave at 6.30 am... they sleep together ( well, sort of- the littlies sleep in the nest box of the cube as far from the big ones as possible) so will have to get everyone in their right place quite early!! Hope I recognise them in the dark!

 

I saw some Stockholm Tar in the shop the other day...

 

Onwards and upwards!

 

Tricia

[Cooks]

If you make the aggressor submit to you whenever they get uppity, it stops them thinking that they are in charge.....and that you are. Press down on her back and hold her gently down for a few moments when you see her having a go. It might help.

This is what I did both times I intregrated, I am top chook whether they like it or not..

You'll get there, keep at it, dont give up

[Patricia W]

Trouble is the little madam sees me coming when she's had a go at the little one and scarpers! I let the baddie out of the sin bin for the last half hour before they went to bed and it wasn't too bad.

 

They are all in the cube tonight again although I have to put the two new ones in. However, tonight I noticed that Joy ( the one who is almost accepted) joined the other two on the bars instead of hiding in the nest box. I then had a panic as Babs was nowhere to be seen in the garden! I eventually found her on the bars under the cube, so at least she knows where she is supposed to sleep. She is now in - but in the nest box.

 

Anyway, I'll keep at it....

 

Tricia