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

[Mattaz]

After the death of my beloved hen, Monica, Pheobe has been a bit lonely. We introduced two new hens the same breed as her and after a bit of squabbling theyve calmed down a bit but the odd bullying happens now and then. But Pheobe is always seperate from the other two, shes never in the same place and i want them to bond together and be friends. Any ideas on how to do this? And how to we put an end to the bullying?

[CluckyBucks]

Hello

 

I read about Monica a few posts back, i hope your alright.

 

I think maybe she is greiving still, im sure in time she will befriend her new flatmates

 

Bestest of luck

 

xx xx

[Mattaz]

Thanks , she has been a little sad lately, on her first day without monica she just walked around the garden going bwaauk, probably looking for her. I just hope she settles with the two new ones very soon.

[CluckyBucks]

Awww bless her. Hopefully she will cheer up soon

 

xx xx

[Mattaz]

Ye same ;[ The whole family has been upset by her death, her and pheobe were the first chickens we ever had. I hope she stops bullying rachel and monica the second coz they dont like her much at the moment, when she comes near they sort of back away and are very alert. So fingers crossed they sort it out soon

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I still have 2 separate groups and my new girls are still very wary of the old girls. They've been together for about 10 weeks now. The bullying has almost stopped but I wouldn't say they're friends yet . I'm hoping they will be eventually .

[Mattaz]

Oh apparently it should take 3 weeks but im not sure. The more chickens you introduce, the more the bullying is spread out but the pecking order takes longer to establish. I just want them to get along and to run around the garden chasing flies and digging for worms just like Monica once did.

[Slim]

I have 2 new girls and after a year you still find they go off together most of the time it might be one of them things. No bullying though.

[Mattaz]

oh ok thanx Just had to put monica 2 and rachel to bed. Pheobe went in as soon as it got dark but the other two havent worked out that the eglu is where they sleep but they soon will hopefully, Pheobe happily let them in unlike on the first night when she wouldnt have any of it, she would rush out and jump at them when they tried to get in on the first night but its okay now.

[Mattaz]

Thanks to everyone whose replied, if anyone comes up with new ideas of how to get Pheobe to like Rachel and Monica 2, ill be happy to hear, thankks again

[Egluntyne]

It is very early days. Encourage them to eat together by scattering treats for them.

 

In three weeks or so they will all be best pals.

[Mattaz]

Thanks, i want things to get back to how they were with Monica. I tend to feed them grapes which Monica the second and pheobe just gobble up and although rachel loves them, shes a bit scared of me. whenever i come close she backs off and she is very cautious when i feed her but im sure she will become tame soon. Very little pecking today, i tried a trick that works with dogs but not sure about chickens, whenever pheobe pecked one of them id simply hit her ( harsh, i know but not very hard) and shed stop pecking for ages. Im not sure if its very kind but she'll get to know that pecking is bad.

[Daphne]

Mattaz - please stop doing that right now. You must know that hitting any creature is wrong. Chickens pecking activities are 2nd nature to them and its a perfectly natural way for them to sort out the pecking order. Its only when the pecking gets out of hand that we need to do something about it - like separate them, use 'purple spray' so the pecker gets a mouthful of nasty taste, or worst case scenario, we use bumper bits.

 

I know you're grieving, but please, this isn't the way to deal with it.

[Leicester_H]

Hi

I had/have the same problem.

One of a a pair died, so we got 2 new girls.

When the established chicken pecks one of the new girls in a bullying way (not just a simple minor pecking order way) I give her a quick squirt of water from a hand held plant spray thingie (99p for a £1 shop) - a water pistol would also do.

 

This gets the message across and (I think) is much better than hitting a chicken.

 

You do need to give it time.

 

H

[Egluntyne]

You simply must not hit your hens Mattaz. Put bluntly, it is cruel and unnecessary.

 

If she pecks the others, make her submit to you by gently pressing down on her back so that she crouches, and hold her there for a few seconds. She will come to accept you as top chicken this way.

 

The gentle squirt with water is also a good tip and works well.

 

You must be patient re them learning to play nicely together, and accept that there will occasionally be minor scuffles.

[Leicester_H]

You simply must not hit your hens Mattaz. Put bluntly, it is cruel and unnecessary.

 

Hi Mattaz - Egluntyne is right. Caring for Chickens is not always intuitive. I know I read up a lot about it before I got my hens and am always looking up information on this forum and asking questions - you are not alone in seeking solutions to chicken problems!!

 

You might be interested in some of my recent postings as I faced the same issues as you.

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=51138

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=51732

 

Do you know any other chicken keepers who you can talk to?

 

Keep posting - let us know how you get on.

 

H

[BocBoc]

Agnes used to get a quick squirt with the water pistol when she pecked Mittens (usually at treat time) with that and spreading the treats around we've not seen any bullying for while. Mind you, since Morag died on Saturday, Agnes and Mittens have been best friends and eating together absolutely fine

 

Try the water pistol trick instead of hitting them. Good luck

[Mattaz]

Well thas basiclaly what i did, id never actually physically hit her ;o omg no thats an awful thought, i could never hurt on of them, what id do is more like tap her gently. maybe its not a good way thought coz it could make it look like im stroking her and rewarding her. hmm oh well extremely little pecking today. just once did i see it happen

[Mattaz]

Ill try the water squirt idea to finally rid the pecking, interesting idea

[Mattaz]

Please people i dont want to make myself sound like an aggressive mad man, id never hit pheobe or any chicken in fact, i tend to exaggerate alot, i simply tapped her very gently but ill try the water pistol. sorry if i got anyone to think i was hurting her I love her far too much to do that.

[Plum]

The squirt of water works really well. I aimed at my Pigeons head when she fluffed up ready to chase and peck my new girl and she was so surprised she stopped immediately and the water wouldn't soak her feathers. Next time I just shoot in front of her and she stops. She doesn't chase them now but will give them a tap if they are next to her

 

I'm sure you didn't really hit her just tapped her but it sounded bad. Don't worry we can tell you love your chickens they will settle eventually, they just make us feel bad while they are doing it. The principle was right bringing her from aggressive mode to submissive but just need to find a different way. Try Egluntynes suggestion of gently holding her down.

[Mattaz]

Been lookig for a water pistol everywhere, cannot find one but it doesnt matter, i think the pecking orders been established now, Virtually no pecking now and i think it goes Pheobe: Boss, obviously, Monica the second, is second and Rachel is last but between monica nad rachel you cant really tell

Anyway thanks for all your tips, just glad to know its over, they looked like they were about to draw blood, Just need pheobe to stay with them now and not be in a ocmplete different place

[Plum]

You don't need a water pistol use a household sprayer and wash out well with soapy water and rinse. Then turn the nozzle so it squirts as a jet not a spray. I would keep one handy anyway. Good that they are settling.

 

Hope that helps