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

[teee]

Hi guys.... Advice needed.. we got our 2 new girls last fri (9th) and this afternoon while they were having a bit of bonding freerange time, i heard a fuss, went running out and hilda,matilda and millie were all huddled on my window ledge.. as to why there was all the noise.... only to see a fox with my little lily in its mouth.. ... he dropped her but was to late. As millie and lily are new they were in a run on there own but are sleeping together at night. since it happened millie is at the top of her run trying to get as close as she can to the other 2 ... i put millie into the big run with hilda and matilda and sat for a while but they did still give her a bit of a peck or two... iv got bumper bits but not used them as yet, un sure what to do.....

Do i ....

Put bumper bits on and put millie back with them ?

Leave her in her run during the day on her own?

Also cos she is so new would you think replacing little lily asap be a good idea as millie was no 4 in pecking order.not sure if to wait till the 3 are living together happy b4 introducing another... DECISIONS... i dont no what to do for the best i feel very sorry for millie.. she keeps coming up under my arm for a cuddle..

Help please ...

[Chook n Boo Mum]

What a horrid shock for you all

 

Personally I'd get Millie another friend and integrate them all as you were before the fox attack.............and be really careful with free ranging from now, once the canny old red coat gets a taste, he'll be back & take advantage of the shortest distraction

 

RIP Lily

 

Sha x

[teee]

Thanks wild mum... Do you think it would be ok to put new one in with little millie, as i only have one spare run to keep the new ones separate during the day while integrating.... im hoping to do this on tues if you think it will work, she will only be a couple of days on her own, what i dont want is for the new one and little millie to not get on ... she is missing her little friend already .. Thanks for the advice my girls will not be out alone again, baby sitting shifts by hubby, and kids ... all will be safe from now on ... So sorry Lily

One question, i`v put little Lily `RIP` some where safe but i`m not sure what to do with her .. its a first for me. Silly question i think its a trip to the vets can some one just confirm this please.

What a horrid shock for you all

 

Personally I'd get Millie another friend and integrate them all as you were before the fox attack.............and be really careful with free ranging from now, once the canny old red coat gets a taste, he'll be back & take advantage of the shortest distraction

 

RIP Lily

 

Sha x

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I buried Tulip after she was attacked by a dog, & planted an apple on her grave...we lined the grave with roof slates which we had left over from a DIY project to give her a little more protection from the potential diggings of the wretched fox...you have to dig very deep to be sure she isn't dug up . Many other people have double wrapped their lost ones & put them in with the general refuse..............

 

I'd get the newbie asap, Millie will be fine for a few days, I assume she can see the older girls from her run? Even though she is relatively new herself, she and the newbie will have to sort out their pecking order, which may or may not be pretty, each introduction is different ...the more space they have to move about even when in the run, or a few perches to escape to the better....could you get another from the same breeder & maybe even from Millie & Lily's pen, then there's just the chance they will recognise each other & not have the power struggles that total strangers will have

 

When I added my Millefleurs Pekins Holly & Berry into Oak & Lavender's nursery I gave them all a liberal dose of red mite powder (some people spray dilute vinegar) as I added them at bedtime, just so they all smelt the same....after about 3 nights they were all sleeping in the nestbox together & only the odd peck being thrown from one to another in the run...O&L had only been with us for 5 nights when I slipped the newbies in, but they were all around the same size & age.

There is no way on earth I could have added my 3 Bitzas in to Blossom's domain without freeranging intros though & they are all bantams too..............as I say each intro is different.

 

Just as an aside really, how are Millie and the older girls getting on? You say there's been the odd peck.......if there's been no serious argy bargy, perhaps you could put her in with them & spend a day or so observing their behaviour if you are not really ready to get another hen.....could you use Millie's run to extend the original run to give them more space..I had my original 3 girls in a standard eglu run & within a week had got DH to build an extension for it, at which point peace broke out rapidly & we've never really looked back with them

 

Not sure that really helps you with the decision making, but I hope everything goes well for you whatever you choose

 

Sha x

[teee]

Hi Sha... Thanks for your help.. Poor Tulip RIP ... Millie out of the two new ones was the one that hilda and matilda really picked on at every chance they would not let her near the food or water so am worried that may still be a problem, tho they dont chase her as much and there is no more jumping on her back and biting her ... Yes millie can see the girls iv attached the old omlet eglu run to the side of the WIR ... Were gonna go and get another one on tues i think, we are able to get her from the same breeder.I think ill try and put millie into the WIR and see what happens.... would you put bumper bits on? sorry lots of questions...

Thanks for the advice. x

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Never used bumper bits, but lots on here have Another useful tool if you can sit with them is a water pistol to squirt which ever chook is being nasty at the time!

 

I'd put out several more food & water stations, they cannot police all the food bowls if there is at least one each, so Millie should get enough food & water.....put her in with them while you are able to be with them today, and if signs are not good, then put her back in her run when you go out to be sure she's safe...it will also give her the chance to feed up & rest if needs be

 

Have you some perches in the WIR, she might like to go up out of the other girls way.......

 

Sorry chooks aren't an exact science are they , having seen Lily's dreadful attack, the shock may have change the dynamics of the flock for the better & you may ( ) be pleasantly surprised Good luck,

 

Sha x

[sandyhas3chucks]

you can integrate 2 with 1(if you have 2) but it should be done really really slowly, with lots of splitting up & swapping.